Meet the Pinta Island Tortoise

 Welcome to my second blog posting! I am excited that you have found your way here. In this blog, I am going to present a species that is already extinct to explain its decline and inspire conservation that has the potential to save similar species from becoming extinct. Like people always say, "we learn history so we don't repeat the past."

Below you will find a photo of the beautiful creature that will be highlighted in this blog:

The Pinta Island Tortoise, also known as the Pinta giant tortoise, is a native species of Ecuador that went formally extinct in 2012. The giant tortoise was added to the formal extinction list when "Lonesome George", the last tortoise alive held in captivity, died. Before George died, he was recognized as the world "rarest creature" by the Guinness book of world records. However, when George died, the species was classified as entirely extinct causing the population to drop to zero.

Before its entire extinction, the Pinta Island tortoise could be found in arid lowlands and sometimes in moist areas at higher elevation if the tortoise was in migration season. Its primary habitat was the Ecuadorian Pinta island, from which it gets its name from. You may ask yourself, how does the extinction of this species affect the ecosystem environment. Good question, A TON! Galapagos.org reports that complete restoration of Pinta requires the presence of the giant tortoises because they have a major impact on the structure and composition of the environment. The website reports that the tortoises have the ability to maintain open areas within forests and dense vegetation by grazing and moving in the environment. In other words, this incredible creature helped shape the landscape through the dispersion of seeds and the creation of open pathways where other animals could thrive.  It has also been reported that this species efforts have shaped the landscape of Pinta for millions of years.

Pinta Island

The decline of the Giant Tortoise can be attributed to the species' frequent storage on ships for food. The tortoise was livestock that didn't need daily feeding. During the 19th century, whalers and fishermen would often kill the Pinta Island tortoise for an easy food source. After causing an exponential decrease in the population, seafarers introduced goats to Pinta in 1959, causing the tortoises' vegetation food source to decimate. 

Although the Pinta Island Tortoise is classified as formally extinct, some experts believe there may be some out there waiting to be found. It has been mentioned that many hybrid tortoise cases have begun to arise often. But, no full Pinta Island Tortoises.

Between 2014 and 2018, Galapagos Conservancy invested more than $1,000,000 in Giant Tortoise conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands. These efforts seek to reverse some of the damage caused by humans going back as far as the 16th century. In 2003, Pinta Island was declared goat-free, to minimize the decreased vegetation for tortoises. In addition, captive breeding has become a common ground to try to revive the number of species. A geographer with geographical aids could help the restoration effort by analyzing a vegetation representation of the environment and providing it to those trying to introduce captive breeding. I think it would be beneficial to know what parts of the island are most dense with forest and trees to know the best place to release the tortoise if plausible one day.

To help revive the Tortoise population, please, don't kill tortoises for food and game. These ancient creatures were shaping the environment way before we humans arrived, so let them have their space. 

5 ways you can help:

1. Donate to the Galapagos Conservation Trust who are trying to revive the giant tortoise population:

https://galapagosconservation.org.uk/donate-cc/

2. Adopt a Giant Tortoise

https://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Giant-Tortoise.aspx?sc=AWY1705OQ18316A01275RX

3. Take action AND SPEAK UP!

https://support.worldwildlife.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=can_home&s_src=web_HYCH

4.  Ask your politicians to back the protection of the Pinta Island tortoise.

5. Voice your opinion on social media to share the message.