The Galápagos Islands is famous for giant tortoises. But as is common with fauna in the Galápagos, tortoise species vary by island. Originally, there were two subspecies endemic to San Cristóbal Island. The one from the southwest and central sections became extinct around 1933. Fortunately, the breed from the northeast survived. This is the species being bred and managed by La Galapaguera. The scientific name for the San Cristóbal giant tortoise is Chelonoidis chathamensis. When the tortoises reach maturity, they are released into the wild across the island.
