Crowded under a rock in the Galapagos archipelago, the baby tortoises wait for the sun to go down to leave their shelter. Nothing disturbs these eastern Santa Cruz tortoises (scientific name Chelondis donfaustoi), which were determined just two years ago to be a new species native to the Ecuadoran islands that inspired Charles Darwin. Kept safe on Santa Cruz island and raised in captivity, their nursery is one of three centers in the archipelago’s national park where 12 species of giant tortoises, unique in the world, are bred.

Galapagos hosts nursery for new tortoise species. (2018, February 2). Manila Standard, p. B3.