Hundred-year-old turtle saves species from extinction thanks to mating ability

A 100-year-old tortoise named Lothario Diego has fathered 40% of the Galapagos giant tortoise population over the past 50 years.

Diego is the savior of the Galapagos giant tortoise. Photo: AFP.

Researchers believe that Lothario Diego is the savior of the Galapagos giant tortoise species thanks to his high mating frequency, according to the International Business Times. Diego is the father of 40% of the offspring born in the past 5 decades.

Diego's species, Chelonoidis hoodensis, is found only on the island of Espanola at the southernmost tip of the Galapagos Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean west of Ecuador.Fifty years ago, there were only two male and 12 female Chelonoidis hoodensis tortoises in Espanola. They lived so far apart that it was difficult for them to meet and breed.

Diego used to live at the San Diego Zoo in California, USA.As an adult, Diego is quite massive, about 90 cm long, 1.5 meters tall and weighs 80 kg.In 1977, Diego was transferred totortoise breeding center on Santa Cruz Island, where he and two other males are tasked with increasing the tortoise population of Espanola Island. However,Scientists do not expect it to perform its mission vigorously.

Diego is the father of at least 800 cubs. Photo: AFP.

Contrary to their imagination, this turtle has completed its mission very well. Despite its old age, Diego is still very flexible and is the most active mating turtle in the group.

Diego the tortoise at the breeding center

Along with other males at the breeding center, Diego saved the Chelonoidis hoodensis species from extinction. In 2010, scientists conducted DNA tests and discovered that Diego fathered at least 800 of the 2,000 tortoises born on the island.Española.

According to VNE