Bolson tortoise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bolson tortoise |
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| Bolson tortoise | |
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Gopherus
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flavomarginatus
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The Bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus) is also known as the Mexican giant tortoise. It is the largest tortoise species in North America. These amazing creatures can grow to about 46 cm (18 inches) long. They live in the Chihuahuan Desert in north-central Mexico, in a special area called the Bolsón de Mapimí.
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How We Found the Bolson Tortoise
The Bolson tortoise was only discovered recently, in 1959. A story says that some scientists were working in the Bolsón de Mapimí. They saw chickens eating from a very large tortoise shell at a ranch. When they asked about it, the local people said it was "la tortuga grande del desierto." This means "the big turtle of the desert."
To protect these special tortoises, the Mapimi Biosphere Reserve was created in 1979. This huge area covers 340,000 hectares. It helps keep the Bolson tortoise and other unique plants and animals safe. Even with this protection, some farming and mining still happen in the reserve.
Why Bolson Tortoises Are Disappearing
Sadly, the number of Bolson tortoises in the wild is shrinking. Research from 1991 estimated that fewer than 10,000 tortoises were left. Their numbers have dropped for a few main reasons.
One big reason is that people have collected them too much. Some tortoises were taken for food, and others were sold as pets. Also, new roads, railroads, and farms have been built. These changes destroy the tortoise's natural home. This has made their numbers drop even faster in the last 40 years.
In some parts of their home, local people know the tortoise is protected. They help keep them safe. But in other areas, like near La Sierra Mojada, there are very few tortoises left. It is thought that some tortoises are still being collected and eaten there. Also, large areas of brush are being cleared for cattle to graze. This removes more of the tortoise's habitat.
In 2008, new corn farms started growing inside the Mapimi Biosphere Reserve. This happened even though the area is protected. These farms were made to produce ethanol, a type of fuel. This farming has taken over land where tortoises used to live.
Appleton Tortoises: A New Home
In 2006, 26 Bolson tortoises got a new home. They were moved from a research ranch in Elgin, Arizona, to the Armendaris Ranch in New Mexico. This area is part of the Chihuahuan desert, where these tortoises used to live long ago.
These tortoises are called the Appleton tortoises. This name honors Ariel Appleton, who worked hard to protect them. The original tortoises were brought to Arizona from Durango, Mexico, in 1973. Four more tortoises from this group were also moved to the Living Desert Museum in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Both of these places have special programs to help the tortoises have babies. This helps increase their numbers.
Rewilding Efforts
The Bolson tortoise became famous in 2005. An article in the journal Nature talked about "Pleistocene rewilding". This idea suggests bringing back large animals that disappeared from North America many thousands of years ago. The goal is to create a "Pleistocene Park."
The Bolson tortoise was the first animal suggested for this project. It is special because, unlike mammoths or giant ground sloths, it is not extinct. The Turner Endangered Species Fund helped move the tortoises to New Mexico. They say their project is about helping an endangered species recover. While it shares some ideas with "rewilding," its main goal is to save the tortoise.
See also
In Spanish: Tortuga mexicana para niños
