Galápagos giant tortoise, bus, Rancho Primicias, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos, Ecuador, South America.

A bus stops for a Galápagos giant tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus; or Geochelone nigra) on Rancho Primicias next to El Chato Tortoise Reserve, in the highlands near Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.

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Filename: 09ECU-4696_Galapagos.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / Photoseek.com
Image Size: 4800x3637 / 5.3MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Animalia Ecuador Galapagos Islands Pacific Ocean Reptilia South America adventure animal equator nature reptile travel vertebrate wildlife animal
Contained in galleries: ECUADOR: Galapagos Islands

A bus stops for a Galápagos giant tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus; or Geochelone nigra) on Rancho Primicias next to El Chato Tortoise Reserve, in the highlands near Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador, South America. This species is the largest living tortoise and is native to seven islands of the Galápagos archipelago. Fully grown adults can weigh over 300 kilograms (661 lb) and measure 1.5 meters (5 feet) over the curve of the shell. They are long-lived with a life expectancy of up to 100-150 years in the wild. Populations fell dramatically because of hunting and the introduction of predators and grazers by humans since the 1600s. Only ten subspecies of the original twelve exist in the wild. Since Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation were established, hundreds of captive-bred juveniles have been released back onto their home islands.