Tracking Giants: Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Program
Tracking Giants: Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Program

Research

Conducting cutting-edge applied science to assist in conserving giant Galapagos tortoises

People

Researchers, collaborators, and supporters who make our continued success possible​

Education

Developing tortoise-based education and outreach programs to enlighten and inspire

Our Search for Knowledge

Research Projects

Movement Ecology

The Galapagos tortoise can survive for a year or more without food or water so why would a 600-pound giant tortoise migrate seasonally up and down the lava-covered volcanoes of the Galapagos Islands? Studying movement ecology is critical to understanding the biology of the Galapagos tortoises.

Health

Understanding the health of these giant tortoises is important not only for developing strategies for their protection, but also to mitigate potential impacts to humans, domestic animals, and other Galapagos wildlife species that share their environment. These long-lived animals act as “sentinel” species, providing information about the health of their entire ecosystem.

Tortoise-Human Interaction

Giant tortoises are ecosystem engineers of the Galapagos as their movements, diets, and behaviors help to shape the island ecology. Did you know that they also play a key role in the local economy and culture? We work to better understand the interactions between human activities and tortoises - from threats to tortoises from human activities to the importance of tortoises for the economy - so that we may help ensure a future for these iconic species.

The Secret to Our Success

Our People

We are fortunate to team up with some of the best researchers, collaborators, and supporters, without whom we wouldn't be able to continue our important work.

Energizing the Next Generation

Education

We are passionate about developing tortoise-based education and outreach programs to enlighten and inspire you and your children!

The Inspiration Behind It All

Meet our tortoise
All-STARS!

The Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Program monitors several nests and we were happy to be there when this sweet little one made its debut.  We won’t be able to find out if this newborn is male or female for 25 – 30 years so stay tuned!

We’ve gotten to know quite a few giant tortoises since we started our work in 2009 and we’re excited to introduce you to some of our favorites.  Discover why they’re so special!