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GNP NEWS: Galapagos National Park helps recently hatched tortoises to leave their nests
05 March 2010
In efforts to increase their chances for survival, park wardens open the nests to help the hatchlings to leave.
These hatchlings were freed from their nests with the help of park wardens.
Park wardens of the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) are opening 380 giant tortoise nests on the island of Santa Cruz. These sites in La Torta, El Fatal, El Peligro and El Chato were identified last year and were protected from predators while the eggs passed through their incubation period.
The giant tortoise lays its eggs in elaborately constructed nests among protective layers of soil. After the incubation period, eggs hatch and the hatchlings remain in the nest for approximately 30 days before emerging to the surface.
By mid-march, this activity should be complete and we will be able to determine the hatch rate for this nesting season.
Similar work is being carried out on the islands of Pinzón, Santiago, San Cristobal and Isabela, with the purpose of increasing the chance of survival of the hatchlings.
Proceso de Relaciones Públicas – Parque Nacional Galápagos – Ecuador
For more information, write to comunicacion@spng.org.ec, or visit www.galapagospark.org.
I trust every precaution is taken to keep the hatchings safe from ridiculous prey like those wretched goats, as well as cats. By the way, how is the goat extermination program coming along?
It’s been some time—like almost 30 years since I visited the islands (the first time in l973)—but I still have a soft spot for that fine part of the world. I just wish there weren’t so many people going to live there. But then, I guess the exploding population on the mainland would end up moving to the US, wouldn’t it?
ås I said in my other message, thanks for all you do!
— Sylvia Campbell · Saturday March 06, 2010 · #
thank you so much for what you do! even drawing attention to such problems is very valuable to my mind. I’m so glad more and more people get interested in preserving the planet we live in and our small (and big) neighbours we are responsible for. sure, it’s not enough, but together I believe we can still manage to acieve some results, gain some time.
— Mhunter · Friday May 07, 2010 · #
this activity should be complete and we will be able to determine the hatch rate for this nesting season.
— batterie · Tuesday June 29, 2010 · #
I just wish there weren’t so many people going to live there.
— labatterie · Friday July 23, 2010 · #