Meet Shelley the Galápagos Giant Tortoise!
Hi! I'm Fiesta! Slow and steady wins the race!
Wise and patient, speaks slowly and thoughtfully.
Greetings, young ones. I'm Bobo, and I want to tell you about my wise friend Shelley the Galápagos Giant Tortoise! She's been slowly wandering these islands for over 150 years! 🐢
Shelley's Ancient Wisdom
Shelley has seen more than most creatures could imagine. She was here when your great-great-great-grandparents were young! Galápagos Giant Tortoises like Shelley can live over 150 years, and some of her relatives have lived over 200 years. That's a lot of sunrises and sunsets to witness!
**Shelley's Massive Presence**
Shelley is one of the largest tortoises in the world! She can weigh up to 600 pounds - that's as much as a small car! But don't worry, she's gentle and moves very slowly. Her shell is her home, her protection, and her identity all rolled into one.
Shelley's Evolutionary Story
Here's something fascinating - Shelley's shell tells the story of where she comes from! Tortoises on different islands have different shell shapes:
Each shape evolved to help them reach the food available on their specific island! This is what helped the famous scientist Charles Darwin develop his theory of evolution.
Conservation Success Story
The Galápagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger complex) species was once **CRITICALLY ENDANGERED** with only **15,000 individuals** remaining from the original 250,000+! But here's some amazing news - thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, the population has recovered to over **19,000 individuals** as of the 2000s! While still **VULNERABLE**, this represents one of conservation's greatest success stories. However, 3 subspecies remain extinct, including Lonesome George's Pinta Island tortoise.
Ready to learn more about Shelley's ancient secrets?
- Bobo says: 'Shelley can survive for up to a year without food or water!'
- Bobo says: 'The patterns on Shelley's shell, called scutes, can sometimes be used to estimate her age.'
Tortoise Shell Detective
Look at pictures of different shell shapes (saddleback vs. dome) and guess what kind of food each tortoise might eat!
Materials needed:
- Pictures of different tortoise species
- Illustrations of high and low vegetation
Duration: 20 minutes
Ready to test what you've learned? I have 5 questions for you!