Like a number of islands in the Seychelles, there was a native giant tortoise population that was quickly extirpated.

Large tortoise populations are found here.

The most northern major island in the Galapagos, at one time Isla Pinta had a thriving tortoise population.

The mouse is dependent upon gopher tortoise burrows, but disease and habitat loss are responsible for decline in the tortoise population.

After three decades of work, the Darwin Foundation has restored the giant tortoise population to about 13,000.

They suggest that this event wiped out most of the tortoise population.

"People weren't damaging these tortoise populations, yet half of the total game brought to the site is tortoises," Dr. Stiner said.

Conservationists have sustained the tortoise population by hatching eggs and rearing the young until they are large enough to be "rat-proof".

Decimating the local dodo and giant tortoise population for food and by introducing competing species and pests, sometimes involuntarily.

Hank turned back to the front and gratefully heard Julia bring up a new topic: the now-extirpated giant tortoise population of Isabela.