Two male Galapagos tortoises vie for the attention of a nearby female. The San Diego Zoo just unveiled a $1-million renovation to the tortoise exhibit, featuring the types of soil, rock formations and plants found in their original island habitat, as well as more watering holes, mud wallows and signage explaining the species’ history and endangered status. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
The San Diego Zoo has 17 Galapagos tortoises, including some who arrived in the 1930s. They may lack tigers charisma and koalas cuteness, but tortoises cant be beat for age the zoos oldest is 130. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
The zoo’s 17 tortoises have produced 51 hatchlings that have been made available to other zoos. Some of the larger tortoises weigh in excess of 500 pounds and can stretch 6 feet from serrated beak to pointy tail. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
The renovation, funded by Tom and Jane Fetter as well as 1,700 individual donations, also includes a small pen where visitors will be able to pet the tortoises, under the watchful eye of a volunteer docent. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
