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| As many as 250,000 tortoises inhabited the islands when they were discovered in the 16th century. Today only about 15,000 are left, according to estimates by the Charles Darwin Foundation and Galapagos National Park Service. However, these organizations have done an amazing job at conserving these animals and are promoting their repopulation through a program here at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Each new tortoise is marked on their carapace, protected and nurtured. When grown, they will be repatriated to the islands where their subspecies is normally found. |
