The Last Tortoise

Author : Craig Stanford
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 248 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2010-05-15
Category : Nature
ISBN : 0674049926

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The Last Tortoise by Craig Stanford Pdf

Tortoises may be the first family of higher animals to become extinct in the coming decades. They are losing the survival race because of what distinguishes them, in particular their slow, steady pace of life and reproduction. The Last Tortoise offers an introduction to these remarkable animals and the extraordinary adaptations that have allowed them to successfully populate a diverse range of habitats—from deserts to islands to tropical forests. The shields that protect their shoulders and ribs have helped them evade predators. They are also safeguarded by their extreme longevity and long period of fertility. Craig Stanford details how human predation has overcome these evolutionary advantages, extinguishing several species and threatening the remaining forty-five. At the center of this beautifully written work is Stanford’s own research in the Mascarene and Galapagos Islands, where the plight of giant tortoise populations illustrates the threat faced by all tortoises. He addresses unique survival problems, from genetic issues to the costs and benefits of different reproductive strategies. Though the picture Stanford draws is bleak, he offers reason for hope in the face of seemingly inevitable tragedy. Like many intractable environmental problems, extinction is not manifest destiny. Focusing on tortoise nurseries and breeding facilities, the substitution of proxy species for extinct tortoises, and the introduction of species to new environments, Stanford’s work makes a persuasive case for the future of the tortoise in all its rich diversity.

Author : Paul Chambers
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 326 pages
File Size : 51,8 Mb
Release : 2006
Category : Nature
ISBN : 0195223969

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A Sheltered Life by Paul Chambers Pdf

A Sheltered Life offers a fascinating look at one of the world's strangest and most wondrous animals--whose significance in modern science and culture cannot be underestimated. In an engaging blend of cultural and natural history, the book ranges from the earliest mention of the tortoises many millennia ago, to the wholesale plunder of their populations starting in the sixteenth century, to modern attempts to protect the tortoise and track down members of what were once believed to be extinct populations.

Author : Elizabeth Hennessy
Publisher : Yale University Press
Page : 384 pages
File Size : 53,7 Mb
Release : 2019-10-29
Category : Nature
ISBN : 9780300249156

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On the Backs of Tortoises by Elizabeth Hennessy Pdf

An insightful exploration of the iconic Galápagos tortoises, and how their fate is inextricably linked to our own in a rapidly changing world. Finalist for the 2020 E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, sponsored by PEN America Literary Awards The Galápagos archipelago is often viewed as a last foothold of pristine nature. For sixty years, conservationists have worked to restore this evolutionary Eden after centuries of exploitation at the hands of pirates, whalers, and island settlers. This book tells the story of the islands’ namesakes—the giant tortoises—as coveted food sources, objects of natural history, and famous icons of conservation and tourism. By doing so, it brings into stark relief the paradoxical, and impossible, goal of conserving species by trying to restore a past state of prehistoric evolution. The tortoises, Elizabeth Hennessy demonstrates, are not prehistoric, but rather microcosms whose stories show how deeply human and nonhuman life are entangled. In a world where evolution is thoroughly shaped by global history, Hennessy puts forward a vision for conservation based on reckoning with the past, rather than trying to erase it. “Fresh, insightful . . . Hennessy’s melding of human and natural history makes for thought-provoking reading.” —Booklist (starred review) “Gripping . . . well-researched and thought-provoking . . . whether you’re well-versed in the intricacies of conservation or have only just begun to long for a look at the tortoises yourself. On the Backs of Tortoises is a natural history that asks important questions, and challenges us to think about how best to answer them.” —Genevieve Valentine, NPR “Wonderfully interesting, informative, and engaging, as well as scholarly.” —Janet Browne, author of Charles Darwin: Voyaging and Charles Darwin: The Power of Place

Author : Henry Nicholls
Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan
Page : 329 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2006-04-04
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780230552258

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Lonesome George by Henry Nicholls Pdf

Lonesome George is a 5ft long, 200lb tortoise aged between 60 and 200. In 1971 he was discovered on the remote Galapagos island of Pinta, from which tortoises had supposedly been exterminated by greedy whalers and seal hunters. He has been at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz island ever since, on the off-chance that scientific ingenuity will conjure up a way of reproducing him and resurrecting his species. Meanwhile a million tourists and dozens of baffled scientists have looked on as the celebrity reptile shows not a jot of interest in the female company provided. Today, Lonesome George has come to embody the mystery, complexity and fragility of the unique Galapagos archipelago. His story echoes the challenges of conservation worldwide; it is a story of Darwin, sexual dysfunction, adventure on the high seas, cloning, DNA fingerprinting and eco-tourism.

Author : Cruz Marquez
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Page : 444 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2019-02-04
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1719223955

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The Natural History of the Galapagos Giant Tortoise by Cruz Marquez Pdf

The first tortoises to accidentally arrive in Galapagos 2-3 million years ago were able to adapt to their harsh environment, find one another, and establish themselves on at first one and then on at least ten islands. By the 1960's, centuries of exploitation by whalers, privateers, traders, collectors and colonists had all but eliminated these enormous lumbering beasts from the landscape. Thanks to the strenuous efforts of scientists and National Park staff, the Galapagos tortoise is once again facing a brighter future. One of these dedicated investigators, Cruz Márquez, has compiled over 40 years of research into this volume which will be an important source of information for scientists, students, naturalist guides, and conservation managers. Lavishly illustrated and including a great deal of previously published and unpublished data, this book addresses the following topics: From where did Galapagos tortoises originate? Which other tortoises are their nearest relatives? When and how did they arrive in Galapagos and spread throughout the islands? How and why did they become giants? What is known about their internal and external anatomy? Is it similar to that of marine turtles? What do giant tortoises eat? How do they adapt to different environments and seasons? Do they eat the same foods in captivity as in the wild? How do they then adapt to foraging in the wild? Do wild giant tortoises move over long distances? If so, why? Are they more active during daylight hours or at night? Why do Galapagos finches appear to feed on the skin of giant tortoises? Why are there so few opuntia cactus on Espanola Island? Is this connected to only 14 tortoises being found there in the 1970's? How do Galapagos tortoises reproduce? Do they form lasting pair bonds? Is it true that incubation temperatures can be manipulated to produce mainly male or mainly female offspring? How can we tell the difference? Do Galapagos tortoises have twins? Are there any albino tortoises? How does the fetus break through the shell? After hatching, how soon does the neonate leave the egg shell? What parasites do Galapagos tortoises have? How do these affect their health? Why are human beings responsible for the near extinction of Galapagos tortoises? What has been done for the conservation of Galapagos giant tortoises? What will be done in the future? What of Lonesome George? What efforts went into keeping the last of his species alive in captivity for almost forty years, and why? What can we learn from his death? The answers to these questions, and many more, can be found in this book.

Author : Francine Jacobs
Publisher : Walker Childrens
Page : 32 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2003-10-01
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN : 0802788645

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Lonesome George, the Giant Tortoise by Francine Jacobs Pdf

The remarkable true story of a one-of-a-kind survivor. One lone tortoise lived a simple life on Pinta Island in the Galápagos Islands of the Pacific Ocean. Then visiting fishermen introduced goats to the unique island, which completely disrupted the ecosystem. One lone tortoise stubbornly clung to life, even after his fellow tortoises disappeared slowly. Then, years after it was believed that all Pinta Island tortoises were extinct, scientists discovered one lone tortoise among the rocky hills of the now barren land. The scientists named this miraculous survivor “Lonesome George” and brought him to the Darwin Research Station, where they hoped to find him a mate. Even though George has remained a steadfast bachelor while waiting for a Pinta Island mate, he is an inspiration for survival as well as a living reminder of the terrible price of extinction.

Author : Roald Dahl
Publisher : Random House
Page : 70 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2024-01-30
Category : Juvenile Fiction
ISBN : 9780241683385

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Esio Trot by Roald Dahl Pdf

‘The greatest moment of my life is coming up now! I mustn’t bish it! I mustn’t bosh it!’ This beautiful edition of Esio Trot, part of The Roald Dahl Classic Collection, features official archive material from the Roald Dahl Museum and is perfect for Dahl fans old and new. So, enter a world where invention and mischief can be found on every page and where magic might be at the very tips of your fingers . . . The Roald Dahl Classic Collection reinstates the versions of Dahl’s books that were published before the 2022 Puffin editions, aimed at newly independent young readers.

Author : Thomas R. Van Devender
Publisher : University of Arizona Press
Page : 404 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2006-09-01
Category : Science
ISBN : 0816526060

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The Sonoran Desert Tortoise by Thomas R. Van Devender Pdf

One of the most recognizable animals of the Southwest, the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) makes its home in both the Sonoran and Mohave Deserts, as well as in tropical areas to the south in Mexico. Called by Tohono O'odham people "komik'c-ed," or "shell with living thing inside," it is one of the few desert creatures kept as a domestic petÑas well as one of the most studied reptiles in the world. Most of our knowledge of desert tortoises comes from studies of Mohave Desert populations in California and Nevada. However, the ecology, physiology, and behavior of these northern populations are quite different from those of their southern, Sonoran Desert, and tropical cousins, which have been studied much less. Differences in climate and habitat have shaped the evolution of three races of desert tortoises as they have adapted to changes in heat, rainfall, and sources of food and shelter as the deserts developed in the last ten million years. This book presents the first comprehensive summary of the natural history, biology, and conservation of the Sonoran and Sinaloan desert tortoises, reviewing the current state of knowledge of these creatures with appropriate comparisons to Mohave tortoises. It condenses a vast amount of information on population ecology, activity, and behavior based on decades of studying tortoise populations in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, and also includes important material on the care and protection of tortoises. Thirty-two contributors address such topics as tortoise fossil records, DNA analysis, and the mystery of secretive hatchlings and juveniles. Tortoise health is discussed in chapters on the care of captives, and original data are presented on the diets of wild and captive tortoises, the nutrient content of plant foods, and blood parameters of healthy tortoises. Coverage of conservation issues includes husbandry methods for captive tortoises, an overview of protective measures, and an evaluation of threats to tortoises from introduced grass and wildfires. A final chapter on cultural knowledge presents stories and songs from indigenous peoples and explores their understanding of tortoises. As the only comprehensive book on the desert tortoise, this volume gathers a vast amount of information for scientists, veterinarians, and resource managers while also remaining useful to general readers who keep desert tortoises as backyard pets. It will stand as an enduring reference on this endearing creature for years to come.

Author : Jessica Grant
Publisher : Vintage Canada
Page : 434 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 2010-03-09
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9780307373922

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Come, Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant Pdf

A delightfully offbeat story that features an opinionated tortoise and her owner who find themselves in the middle of a life-changing mystery. Audrey (a.k.a. Oddly) Flowers is living quietly in Oregon with Winnifred, her tortoise, when she finds out her dear father has been knocked into a coma back in Newfoundland. Despite her fear of flying, she goes to him, but not before she reluctantly dumps Winnifred with her unreliable friends. Poor Winnifred. When Audrey disarms an Air Marshal en route to St. John’s we begin to realize there’s something, well, odd about her. And we soon know that Audrey’s quest to discover who her father really was – and reunite with Winnifred – will be an adventure like no other. Excerpt: Winnifred is old. She might be three hundred. She came with the apartment. The previous tenant, a rock climber named Cliff, was embarking on a rock-climbing adventure that would not have been much fun for Winnifred. Back then her name was Iris. Cliff had inherited Iris from the previous tenant. Nobody knew how old Iris was or where she had come from originally. Now Cliff was moving out. He said, Would you like a tortoise. I would not say no to a tortoise, I said. I was alone in Portland and the trees were giant. I picked her up and she blinked at me with her upside-down eyelids. I felt instantly calm. Her eyes were soft brown. Her skin felt like an old elbow. I will build you a castle, I whispered. With a pool. And I was true to my word.

Author : IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group
Publisher : IUCN
Page : 210 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 1989
Category : Nature conservation
ISBN : 9782880329860

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The Conservation Biology of Tortoises by IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group Pdf

Author : Jean Craighead George
Publisher : HarperCollins
Page : 40 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2014-04-08
Category : Juvenile Fiction
ISBN : 0060287934

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Galapagos George by Jean Craighead George Pdf

This is the story of the famous Lonesome George, a giant tortoise who was the last of his species, lived to be one hundred years old, and became known as the rarest creature in the world. His story gives us a glimpse of the amazing creatures inhabiting the ever-fascinating Galápagos Islands. Renowned naturalist and bestselling author of the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves and the critically acclaimed Everglades Jean Craighead George once again introduces children to the wonders of the natural world in this incredible evolution story set in the Galápagos Islands. The back matter features key terms, a timeline, and further resources for research. Supports the Common Core State Standards.

Author : Nan Forler
Publisher : Tundra Books
Page : 41 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2022-02-15
Category : Juvenile Fiction
ISBN : 9780735266629

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Rodney Was a Tortoise by Nan Forler Pdf

This comforting and gently humorous picture book about bereavement and the strength of friendship shows how a child overcomes the sadness of her beloved pet's death. Bernadette and Rodney are the best of friends. Rodney's not so good at playing cards, but he's great at staring contests. His favorite food is lettuce, though he eats it VERRRRRRY SLOOOOOWLY. And he's such a joker! When Bernadette goes to sleep at night, Rodney is always there, watching over her from his tank. As the seasons pass, Rodney moves slower and slower, until one day he stops moving at all. Without Rodney, Bernadette feels all alone. She can't stop thinking about him, but none of her friends seem to notice. Except for Amar. Rodney Was a Tortoise is a moving story about friendship and loss. It shows the importance of expressing kindness and empathy, especially in life's most difficult moments.

Author : Henry Nicholls
Publisher : Profile Books
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2014-03-13
Category : History
ISBN : 9781847658968

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The Galapagos by Henry Nicholls Pdf

Formed of dramatic volcanic scenery and home to marvellous beasts, it is little wonder that the first name for the Galpagos archipelago was Las Encantadas: the enchanted islands. In this captivating natural history, Henry Nicholls builds up the ecology of these famous islands, from their explosive origins to the arrival of the archipelago's celebrated reptiles and ultimately humans. It's a story of change, as the islands are transformed from lava-strewn wilderness into a vital scientific resource and a sought-after destination for eco-enthusiasts. Charles Darwin's five-week visit to the Galpagos in 1835 played a pivotal role in this transformation. At the time, he was more interested in rocks than finches, took the opportunity to ride on the backs of tortoises and fling iguanas into the sea. Yet the Galpagos experience can be an inspiration and it certainly was for Darwin, pointing him towards one of the most important and influential ideas in the history of humankind: evolution by natural selection. And with the Darwin connection, the Galpagos found itself propelled onto a global stage. But worldwide fame has brought with it nearly 200,000 tourists a year and a human population now estimated at around 30,000. If Darwin learned from the Galpagos, so we must too. For what happens here in years to come foreshadows the fate of threatened ecosystems everywhere on earth.

Author : Joyce L. Markovics
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 24 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2022-08
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN : 1668912872

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Pinta Island Tortoise by Joyce L. Markovics Pdf

"When animals die out, the last survivor is called an endling. Discover the moving story of the last Pinta Island tortoise, how it came to extinction, and the scientists who cared for and studied it. Finally, learn what can be done to protect our incredible wildlife. This book includes a table of contents, glossary of keywords, index, author biography, sidebars, and info about other animals on the brink of extinction"--

Author : Peter Young
Publisher : Reaktion Books
Page : 212 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2004-04-04
Category : Nature
ISBN : 9781861895042

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Tortoise by Peter Young Pdf

Tortoise is the first cultural history of these long-lived and intriguing creatures, which have existed for more than 200 million years. The book covers tortoises worldwide, in evolution, myth and reality, ranging across paleontology, natural history, myth, folklore, art forms, literature, veterinary medicine and trade regulations. The tortoise has been seen as an Atlas-like creature supporting the world, as the origin of music and as a philosophical paradox. Peter Young examines the tortoise in all these guises, as well as a military tactical formation, its exploitation by mariners and others for food, as ornament (in tortoiseshell), as a motif in art, and in space research. He looks at the movement away from exploitation to conservation and even the uses of the tortoise in advertising. As well as examples of species, illustrations from around the world include monuments, sculptures, coins, stamps, objets d’art, drawings, cartoons, advertisements and X-rays. The book will appeal not only to tortoise lovers but also to readers of cultural histories around the world. "Peter Young’s Tortoise, on the other claw, can be warmly recommended."—Jonathan Bate, The Times