Now the 100-year-old tortoise will return to the uninhabited Galapagos island where he originated, Española Island off the coast of South America, to live out his days in peace. Diego the Giant tortoise fathered over 800 children after being moved to Santa Cruz island in Galapagos, Ecuador. He is named after San Diego Zoo in CaliforniaFrom there Diego, who is 175lb (12.5 stone) and an incredible 5ft tall when he stretches, became a prolific breeder. He is said to be responsible for at least 40 per cent of the 2,000 existing members of his species, Chelonoidis hoodensis - a species of Galapagos tortoise only found on Espanola. 'Fifteen turtles of from Española Island, including Diego, return home after decades of breeding in captivity and saving their species from extinction.

Source: Daily Mail June 16, 2020 15:39 UTC