Diego_19 Now

Diego is a centenarian tortoise of the species Chelonoidis hoodensis , native to Española Island. In the 1960s, his species was on the absolute brink of extinction with only in the wild.

: Diego was originally taken from the Galápagos in the early 20th century and spent decades at the San Diego Zoo. diego_19

: In 1977, he was returned to a breeding center on Santa Cruz Island. Over the next four decades, he fathered an estimated 800 to 900 offspring , single-handedly accounting for nearly 40% of the repopulation effort. Diego is a centenarian tortoise of the species

: In June 2020, Diego officially "retired" from the program and was released back onto his native Española Island to live out his remaining years in the wild. Other Notable "Diegos" : In 1977, he was returned to a