https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/12/world...drive.html
EXCERPT: . . . In 1970, researchers began saving the Española Island tortoises. At the time, there were 14 tortoises left: 12 females and two males, according to the Galápagos Conservancy. In 1976, a third male was introduced to the tortoise restoration breeding program, Diego, who had lived at the San Diego Zoo in the United States for 30 years.
The breeding program helped increase the tortoise population to 2,000 from 15, Jorge Carrión, the director of the Galápagos National Park, said in a statement. Paternity tests indicate that Diego is responsible for about 40 percent of the offspring produced, James P. Gibbs, a professor of environmental and forest biology at the State University of New York in Syracuse, said.
“Another more reserved, less charismatic male — ‘E5’ — has generated about 60 percent,” he said. “The third male — ‘E3’ — virtually none. So Diego has been critical.”
What was it about Diego? Why did he attract so many mates and garner such international attention, especially if another male was more productive? Professor Gibbs says Diego has “a big personality — quite aggressive, active and vocal in his mating habits and so I think he has gotten most of the attention.”
“But it clearly is the other quieter male that has had much more success,” he added. “Maybe he prefers to mate more at night.” (MORE)
AUDIO VERSION:
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/H4B9OcFpM28
EXCERPT: . . . In 1970, researchers began saving the Española Island tortoises. At the time, there were 14 tortoises left: 12 females and two males, according to the Galápagos Conservancy. In 1976, a third male was introduced to the tortoise restoration breeding program, Diego, who had lived at the San Diego Zoo in the United States for 30 years.
The breeding program helped increase the tortoise population to 2,000 from 15, Jorge Carrión, the director of the Galápagos National Park, said in a statement. Paternity tests indicate that Diego is responsible for about 40 percent of the offspring produced, James P. Gibbs, a professor of environmental and forest biology at the State University of New York in Syracuse, said.
“Another more reserved, less charismatic male — ‘E5’ — has generated about 60 percent,” he said. “The third male — ‘E3’ — virtually none. So Diego has been critical.”
What was it about Diego? Why did he attract so many mates and garner such international attention, especially if another male was more productive? Professor Gibbs says Diego has “a big personality — quite aggressive, active and vocal in his mating habits and so I think he has gotten most of the attention.”
“But it clearly is the other quieter male that has had much more success,” he added. “Maybe he prefers to mate more at night.” (MORE)
AUDIO VERSION: