There are eight giant tortoises visible in this photo. They were enjoying a drink and a swim at a water hole in the Santa Cruz Highlands of the Galapagos Islands. There were several others milling about too, outside of the range of my wide angle lens. It was a lot of fun hiking through Santa Cruz’s open pastures alongside these enormous animals — the largest of their kind in the world and one of the longest living vertebrates in the world. They have an average lifespan of more than a hundred years. Biologists aren’t quite sure of the exact lifespan because data wasn’t collected that long ago, but a captive individual is known to have lived at least 170 years. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/1600th of a second
great pic. do they have these trules in the san diego zoo. ? )I want to know do they have any of thesebig turle in the united states, so if we wanted to go see them in the us.? )
Hey Michael, yes, they do have them at the San Diego Zoo. In the wild they are only in the Galapagos Islands and a small population of similar tortoises on an island off of Tanzania.
Wow! I never would have figured one could observe so many, indeed an armada of, Giant Tortoises in one location. It doesn’t take much of a leap to imagine a similar watering hole for dinosaurs. What an experience for you to add to your photographic resume, Sean!
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
There are eight giant tortoises visible in this photo. They were enjoying a drink and a swim at a water hole in the Santa Cruz Highlands of the Galapagos Islands. There were several others milling about too, outside of the range of my wide angle lens. It was a lot of fun hiking through Santa Cruz’s open pastures alongside these enormous animals — the largest of their kind in the world and one of the longest living vertebrates in the world. They have an average lifespan of more than a hundred years. Biologists aren’t quite sure of the exact lifespan because data wasn’t collected that long ago, but a captive individual is known to have lived at least 170 years.
—– The real turtle soup
—– Brought by millennia to us
—– Without doubt not mock .
This was like a Where’s Waldo exercise. But I did find eight!! They look this old even when newborn, don’t they, Sean? Amazing creatures.
Great shot! My all time favorite animal.
Wisdome of the ages.
great pic. do they have these trules in the san diego zoo. ? )I want to know do they have any of thesebig turle in the united states, so if we wanted to go see them in the us.? )
Hey Michael, yes, they do have them at the San Diego Zoo. In the wild they are only in the Galapagos Islands and a small population of similar tortoises on an island off of Tanzania.
Wow! I never would have figured one could observe so many, indeed an armada of, Giant Tortoises in one location. It doesn’t take much of a leap to imagine a similar watering hole for dinosaurs. What an experience for you to add to your photographic resume, Sean!
A really primal feel to this photo.
That’s amazing! They most not really have any natural predators to live that long.