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Cayot, L. J., & Tapia, W. , Galapagos tortoises: the abcs of successful recovery. Unpublished paper presented at 6th World Congress of Herpetology. 
Added by: Admin (21 Nov 2009 11:59:51 UTC)
Resource type: Conference Paper
BibTeX citation key: Cayot2008
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Categories: General
Keywords: Chelonoidis, Chelonoidis nigra, Habitat = habitat, invasive Arten = invasive species, Mittelamerika = Central America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises, Testudinidae
Creators: Cayot, Tapia
Collection: 6th World Congress of Herpetology
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Abstract     
Testudinidae Geochelone nigra The Breeding, Rearing, and Repatriation Program for Galapagos Tortoises began over 40 years ago as a joint program of the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) and the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF). The giant tortoise was one of the most devastated taxa in Galapagos. The initial onslaught occurred in the 1800s, when 100 to 200 thousand tortoises were removed by whalers and fur sealers for food during their long voyages. This was followed by the devastating impacts of introduced species – both predators (pigs, cats, dogs, rats, and ants) and competitors (goats and donkeys). With the establishment of the Galapagos National Park and the CDF in 1959, a systematic review of the tortoise populations began. Only 11 of the 14 original populations remained and most were endangered. The breeding and rearing program was initiated in 1965, with little knowledge of Galapagos tortoise ecology. The 40-year history of the program exemplifies the critical integration of research and management to achieve conservation goals. Ecological understanding and the management program developed in parallel in the following sequence: 1960s – determination of the status of the populations and inclusion of threatened populations in the program; 1970s – field research on tortoise reproductive and nesting behavior and establishment of effective nesting areas in the corrals; 1980s – experiments in the tortoise center to determine and then implement best practices for incubation and rearing; 1990s – nutritional research and initiation of genetic analyses; and 2000s – fine-tuning of small, isolated populations and restoration of tortoise populations on islands where they are extinct with closely related captive-reared animals. A total of 600 to 700 tortoises (hatchlings to 4-year-olds) are reared at the tortoise centers annually. Mortality in captivity has been reduced to near zero. The repatriation program has released over 4500 tortoises into eight populations (Table 1). Natural reproduction of repatriated tortoises began in the early 1990s. Field work in the 1990s showed survival rates between 55 and 77%. Successful eradications of goats, pigs, and donkeys in recent years have improved conditions for tortoises in the wild. Current efforts are aimed at eliminating rats in critical conservation areas. Long-term programs for long-lived animals are critical to recovery and eventual restoration of their populations.
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