GALÁPAGOS, ECUADOR — A 100-year-old giant tortoise is being credited for singlehandedly reviving his species from impending extinction.
In 1976, Diego, a Chelonoidis hoodensis tortoise, was brought over from the San Diego Zoo to Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos for a single purpose — repopulate his dwindling species.
Along with six females on the island, Diego spent decades copulating, and today his genes can be traced to almost 40% of the current population in the wild.
A study conducted by tortoise preservationists found that of the roughly 2000 tortoises on the island, Diego has fathered about 800 babies.
