Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos
The Giant Galápagos Tortoise has the capacity to know what is in the minds of people who go there. If you go to the Galápagos with bad intentions, the tortoise will curse you.
Galápagonian Legend
Galápagos comes from the Old Spanish word for saddle – galapago.
I wouldn’t ride on one, but early Spanish sailors thought Giant Tortoise shells looked like saddles.
We spent part of our first day on the Galápagos observing the islands’ namesake in their natural environment.
Bear and a naturalist conversing with a large male in the prime of his life, at 100 years old.
The Galápagos tortoise leads an uncomplicated life, grazing on grass, leaves, and cactus, basking in the sun, and resting for nearly 16 hours per day.
Tortoises spend some of their leisure time submerged in mud bogs to cool off.
A slow metabolism and an ability to store large amounts of water mean tortoises can survive for up to a year without eating or drinking. This trait, of not requiring sustenance for months, led to the near extinction of the Giant Galápagos Tortoise. During the Age of Discovery, sailors captured them in large numbers. They used tortoise meat, which did not require preservation, as an on-board food source.
Pirates, getting ready for dinner.
Conservation efforts have reversed the reptile’s population decline; there are now more than 70,000 Giant Galápagos Tortoises on the islands and their numbers are growing.
The Curse Has Been Broken
Valerie Guillemin
Feed him any hamburger on a toothpick? You may need the whole roast for those guys.
Russ Paton
Ha! I remember your turtle going for a very long time without food, in the heat ducting!
Donna Owchar
Amazing pictures! The. Terrain is so green and the Tortoise are large! Looks like a interesting adventure. Enjoy your travels.