Torebuildtortoisepopulationsinthewild,some arefirstraisedincaptivity.Here’showit works:
1
Inthewild,mothertortoiseslaytheireggsinholes.Theycoverthemwithsand.Whenscientistsfindtheburiedeggs,theybringthemtoarearing center.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_october_2019/raising_tortoises_and_keeping_the_peace/466811/step_1.480_0_1.jpg)
2
Eacheggislabeled,weighed,andregistered.Theyarekeptinboxes.Theytake120daysto hatch.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_october_2019/raising_tortoises_and_keeping_the_peace/466812/step_2.480_0_1.jpg)
3
Ahatchlingbreaksfreefromitsegg.Itfeedsonitsyolksacfor30 more days.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_october_2019/raising_tortoises_and_keeping_the_peace/466813/step_3.480_0_1.jpg)
4
Fortwoyears,youngtortoisesarekeptinpens.Theseprotectthemfrompredators.Theylearntofindtheirown food.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_october_2019/raising_tortoises_and_keeping_the_peace/466814/step_4.480_0_1.jpg)
5
Whentheyarefiveyearsold,theyareoldenoughtolookafterthemselves.Thentheyarereleasedtothe wild.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_october_2019/raising_tortoises_and_keeping_the_peace/466815/step_5.480_0_1.jpg)
KeepingthePeace
Anotherconservationgoalistopreventconflictsbetweenhumansandtortoises.SantaCruz,SanCristóbal,andIsabelahavealreadyseen conflicts.
OnSantaCruz,tortoiseshaveeatenplastics.Othershavebeenhitbycars.Onewasattackedbystraydogs.ThepeopleoftheGalápagosknowandvaluethe treasure theyhaveinthegianttortoises.Theyaretryingmanywaystoprotect them.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_october_2019/raising_tortoises_and_keeping_the_peace/466810/keeping_the_peace.720_0_1.jpg)
Ababytortoisecrawlsacrossa leaf.
PROTECTTHENATURALWORLD
OneofNationalGeographic’sgoalsistohelpprotectEarth’swildplaces.HowdidthestoriesmakeyoufeelabouttheGalápagosIslands?Doyouthinkitisimportanttoprotect them?