Partnership Creates New State-Of-The-Art Incubators For Chelonoidis Nigra Conservation Project
The giants of the Galapagos islands, Chelonoidis nigra, have roamed their territory long before humans discovered this incredible oasis. Unfortunately, their population has plummeted by almost 90% as a result of deforestation and illegal collection. Many organizations have already stepped up to initiate breeding and headstarting programs to cause a rebound in this species, and the Galapagos Conservancy along with the Galapagos National Park Directorate have partnered together with the Galapagos Tortoise Restoration Initiative in an attempt to save these prehistoric beasts from extinction. They have had significant success, however, and many headstarted tortoises are released each year back into their native habitat. That being said, their incubators have consisted of simple a hair dryer set to a certain temperature, which is far from ideal. Amazingly, Schneider Electric and Automated Control Logic have begun a partnership to provide the Restoration Initiative with high-tech incubation systems in order to increase their hatch rates and further their success. A brand new heating delivery system along with precise temperature controllers are just a small peak at the impressive setup that these companies have created. With an expected hatch rate of up to 500 tortoises per year, the Galapagos Conservancy predicts that they have the capability to boast the world’s population by 25% in the coming years.
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Miscellany
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Photo from Amaury Laporte.
