Can you imagine the fate of your species depending on you? In the ’70s, this giant tortoise was only 1 of 3 males left in the world and is credited for single-handedly saving the species. The horny tortoise has lived a life worth talking about, but he’s recently retired his exceptional libido
The massive tortoise has fathered approximately 40% of the species!
Meet Diego, he’s a 130-year-old tortoise who stepped up to the plate and saved his species with his “exceptionally high sex drive”
Back in the 1970s, Diego was 1 of only 3, male, Chelonoidis Hoodensis tortoises. The giant tortoise, native to the Galápagos Islands was put into captive breeding in order to save the species from going extinct.
Placed in the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Center on the Ecuadorian island of Santa Cruz, Diegos insatiable sex drive proved to be a key factor in saving the day. Even Charles Darwin wrote about feasting on the giant tortoises, in his journal from 1839 he said:
“We lived entirely on tortoise meat, the breastplate roasted… with flesh on it, is very good; and the young tortoises make excellent soup.” – Charles Darwin
Back in the 1970s, there was only 3 males left, due to overhunting of the giant tortoises
Although Diego has made a huge impact, another tortoise names E5 had fathered 60% of the species. Diego has just garnered more attention due to his unique and vocal mating habits. Professor, James P. Gibbs, at the State University of New York in Syracuse, explained:
“It might come as a surprise to many but tortoises do form what we would call ‘relationships,'” Gibbs went on to say: “Diego is quite aggressive, active and vocal in his mating habits and so I think he has gotten most of the attention.”
Not all tortoises have a sex drive like Diego, one, in particular, was the exact opposite of the ladies man
One tortoise, sadly nicknamed Lonesome George(who was the last male of the species), spent decades rejecting females until he passed away in 2012. After he died, scientists’ found an anatomical ailment that was likely the reason for him rejecting females all those years.
The exceptional breeding program has brought the population of the Chelonoidis Hoodensis tortoises from an almost extinct 15 to over 2,000 thriving tortoises.
Since there conservation goals at the Galápagos National Park have been met, the breeding program will soon be disabled meaning Diego can retire
The original plan was to increase the population of the giant tortoise on Pinzón Island, but 5 years later they decided to also help the species thrive on Española Island as well. With all the objectives met, Diego can now retire to a life of less pressure, but something tells me he won’t stop courting the ladies.
What an amazing story of revival, thanks to Diego, E5, and the captive breeding program, the species is on the incline and thriving. Diego was even on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah, watch the video below to see the hysterical clip.
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