The giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands have benefited from the captive breeding program initiated at the Charles Darwin Researched Station. The tortoises are released when large enough to defend themselves against predators.

When the Galapagos were discovered by Spanish explorers in 1535, hundreds of thousands of giant tortoises roamed the islands. (Galapago is the Spanish word for tortoise.) Survivors of prehistoric times when reptiles were of enormous size, some of the tortoises grow to four feet in length and weigh as much as 500 pounds. They may live for more than a century.

Tortoises from Pinzon and Hood islands are breeding, but there is only one of the Pinta island tortoise species left, and that's why he is called Lonesome George. Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by MrGhaz.