Meet Diego:
This story is a couple months old, but I simply could not ignore it.
A breeding program for the Galápagos’ Española tortoises has ended after more than 40 years. Española Island is now home to a stable population of 2,000 Española tortoises, recovered from only 12 females and three males in 1976.
The program started with only two male tortoises until a third, named Diego, was found in the San Diego Zoo. He had lived in the zoo for about 30 years before joining the breeding program on the Galápagos’ Santa Cruz island. Diego, now over 100 years old, had a big impact on the program; he has a strong personality and isn’t shy about sex, which earned him a reputation online. Now, he and the 14 other tortoises in the breeding program are preparing to return home.
It will take a few months for the breeding program to fully wind down. The 15 breeding tortoises will be quarantined to ensure that they don’t carry non-native seeds with them to Española Island. But in March, after at least 80 years away, Diego can retire on his home turf.
(https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/galapagos-tortoise-breeding-program-ends-after-meeting-conservation-goals-180973952/)
Together with his 2 male friends, the 3 Amigos have done what nature called them to do. Quite the shelled studs, I'd say.
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt