The Galapagos Islands or also known as the “Enchanted Islands” is an amazing paradise located in South America in the little country of Ecuador, they are the second largest marine reserve on the planet and in 1978 they were declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

These islands are rich in unique fauna in the whole world, here about 14 species of giant turtles used to live of which 3 extinguished, to protect the rest of the species important decisions had to be taken by the government of the country.

In 1960 after some research, investigators that were in the Galapagos Islands, discovered that only twelve females and two males of the specie Chelonoidis hoodensis were left. They were about to extinguish; this was a very vital time to take an important decision; Save the specie!

About 100 years old is Diego, the tortoise that traveled thousands of kilometers from the Galapagos Islands located in Ecuador to San Diego California in the United States, 87 years ago he left his island to mate with other tortoises and save his specie.

In 1976, Diego and other friends were taken away to San Diego, California where they were very well treated so they could start a reproduction program.

Diego, the most important tortoise of his friends breaded 800 babies! That´s about 40% of his species that are alive today! Amazing right?

On February Diego and his friends were supposed to return to the Galapagos Islands but due to the pandemic over COVID-19 it got delayed, he returned home in March. Now, he is totally free, enjoying the time he has in the islands where he was born and with the rest of his family.

If you ever visit Ecuador, make sure to stop in the Galapagos Island, you will find a variety of turtles, birds, iguanas and so much more!