A Proud Father! Galapagos Tortoise Set For Release After Saving His Species With 800 Offspring
January 13, 2020
A 130-year-old Galapagos tortoise has single-handedly saved his species by fathering 800 offspring.
Now, since his job is done, he is set to return home.
Diego, believed to be taken from the Galapagos Islands, was recruited along with 14 other adults for a captive breeding program and will be returned to his native island of Espanola in March, the Galapagos National Parks service said in a statement.
The population went from 15 to 2,000 tortoises due to the program, according to the conservancy. Park rangers believe that 40% of the current population of tortoises are descendants of Diego.
"He's contributed a large percentage to the lineage that we are returning to Espanola," said Jorge Carrion, the park's director. "There's a feeling of happiness to have the possibility of returning that tortoise to his natural state."
Closing the breeding program will include the return of the 15 original adults -- 12 females and two males.
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
Boy With Down Syndrome Nails The Whitney Houston Challenge, And The Crowd Goes Wild
Husband Rents Mall Store To Share His Late Wife's Beloved Christmas Display
The ‘Grandma Stand’ Is Bringing Comfort And Connection, One Conversation At A Time
This Priest Secretly Became A Masked Wrestler To Fund An Orphanage
The Funniest Wildlife Photos Of 2025 Are Here — And They’re Hilarious
This 30-Year-Old’s Christmas Gift To His Mom Is Going Viral
Dad Jokes With Tom Hardy And His Dad
After 2 Years Apart, Siblings In Foster Care Are Finally Reunited
The Hug That Went Viral On Facebook
You Have To See This 'Piggy Train' Trotting Through The Snow
She’s Been Helping Hungry Children For Years — This Christmas, Someone Helped Her
