First giant turtles from cycle 2013-2014 were born

According to the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park (GNP) was reported the birth of 72 Galapagos tortoises, since the appearance of eggs belonging to the breeding season from 2013 to 2014.

The Galapagos National Park announced that the breeding season started from November 28 in the “Reproduction and Breeding Center Fausto Llerena”, in the Santa Cruz Island. From those turtles, 39 correspond to the Spanish Island; 19 to the Pinzon Island and 14 to Floreana Island.

Fausto Llerena, ranger of the Ministry of Environment and manager of reproduction center, said that 272 eggs were inside incubators from late November until the beginning of the outbreak, which is expected to end  in March.

The eggs are kept in a natural process of hatching until they break the shell and are kept 30 days in the nest underground, until the plastron (belly side of the shell) is hardened. Then it comes  to the surface in search of food and water. After hatching, the “galapaguitos” are marked with paint, measured and weighed. After a month, they’ll go to a protection corral, where they are fed for the first time, like in their natural state.