WHAT IS THE TORTOISE?
The Giant Turtle has a lifespan of well over a century; some individuals may have lived to two centuries. It is also a highly endangered species, due to all the usual reasons. For a creature with so few demands, a thick shell for defense against predators, and a lifespan that can reach 100 years, the tortoise should be one of the great survivors of the desert. But the tortoise’s low reproductive rate and the extreme variability of desert conditions make it difficult for the species to maintain a stable population. Habitat destruction and illegal tortoise collection have disrupted this delicate balance. As a result, the desert tortoise population has been declining for years.
