31-07-2011
No snorkelling but loads of tortoise.
Morning visit to the Charles Darwin centre at Santa Cruz island. They have done some pretty cool things. An island had only 15 tortoises left, they were all brought back to the centre and now more than a thousand have been placed back there. To increase the number without mixing of species a saddleback tortoise from San Diego zoo was brought in, he sure did his job well. Then there is Lonesome George, only one of his kind (was found alone on an island) and has been there for 40 years. Two female tortoises from different islands are in his pen to keep him from getting too lonely. I am not sure I agree with their policy of destroying the eggs resulting from tortoises from different islands, they obviously want to keep the bloodlines pure.
I like the centre's adaptability and innovativeness, the hi-fi incubators didn't last long due to the fluctuating electricity so they have a set up with mud, hair dryers and a thermometer. As the temperature can be regulated more females have been coming out of the centre. They have a cute tortoise wilderness training program, the adorable little babies have to rough it so they can get ready for their respective islands.
Some shopping time before lunch, loads of " I love boobies" t-shirts around. At the pier as fishermen were sorting their daily load, an iguana was gnawing on a fish, they are supposed to be vegetarian!
Afternoon at another part of the island, the highlands. Walked through a larva tunnel, large, cool and wet. Continued through to an area where the wild tortoise come to play (i.e. mate) at this time of the year. The males were there, ladies were obviously running late. They are massive, very ancient looking creatures. If you get into their personal space they hiss and trudge towards you.
Near the area is a touristy spot with a cafe, shops and three tortoise shells. We crawled into one and took some tortoise-ish pictures, the shells are heavy. Jeevan did manage to do a few push ups when he was in, that's my man.
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