Skip navigation
Go to home page > Our Work > Educational resources > Tortoises of Española: A conservation success story
Science Wildlife studies

Tortoises of Española: A conservation success story

Galapagos giant tortoise amongst vegetation
© Ben Howitt

Introduction

Learning objectives

  • Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.
  • Explore the captive breeding programme of the Española tortoises and its success.
  • To understand the threats the tortoises faced and what led to their decline.

Students’ outcomes

  • To be able to explain how the captive breeding programme of the Española tortoises has been a success.
  • To identify the threats that faced the tortoise populations of Española.
  • To recognise the need for continued conservation.

Related articles

Aldabra giant tortoise on a beach in the Seychelles
13th Jun 2025
Evolution and genetics Island restoration

Aldabra and Galapagos giant tortoises: A shared evolutionary story

We take a look at the parallel histories of Aldabra and Galapagos giant tortoises, and the ways in which both are now helping to restore island ecosystems.
Read more
Santa Cruz giant tortoise
30th Apr 2025
Wildlife studies

Viral prevalence in giant tortoises: An interview with Gislayne Mendoza Alcívar

We spoke to Gislayne Mendoza Alcívar at the Charles Darwin Foundation about her research, partly funded by GCT, looking at the presence and prevalence of infectious agents in giant tortoises.
Read more
GCT's Tom O'Hara, Hannah Rickets and Dr Jen Jones with Stephen Fry for the BBC Radio 4 Appeal recording
10th Nov 2024
News Plastic pollution

GCT Ambasador Stephen Fry presents BBC Radio 4 Appeal

Actor, broadcaster, writer and bona fide national treasure Stephen Fry raises the plight of Galapagos giant tortoises and the threat of plastic pollution in this week's BBC Radio 4 Appeal.
Read more
Galapagos giant tortoise eating fruit
29th Oct 2024
Biodiversity loss Research

Understanding the movements of giant tortoises: an interview with Cristian Peñafiel

Cristian Peñafiel, field assistant working at the Charles Darwin Foundation, shares his experience studying one of the Archipelago's most iconic residents.
Read more

Get the latest news from Galapagos

Join our mailing list to receive our monthly email newsletter, bringing you the latest news on Galapagos and our work to protect the Islands.

This field is hidden when viewing the form