Show notes
Join us as we talk to Jason and Tara Troxell of Arctic Reptile Ranch about life with Galapagos tortoises. We'll talk about how they ended up on the islands to begin with (hint, it's not island gigantism!) and earned the nickname "Galap-holes". We go beyond the standard nature documentary fare to dig into what life with these magnificent animals is truly like. It’s a story that begins in an unlikely place, finding Galaps in Alaska.Beyond their personal journey, we dive deep into the natural history of the species and exploring how humans drove giant tortoises to extinction in nearly every other part of the world. Jason and Tara also provide a sobering look at captive care, from the immense costs of veterinary treatment (sometimes the price of a car) to the reality of caring for animals you can't physically move on your own. Whether you are a dreamer or a future keeper, this episode covers the legality, logistics, and heavy lifting required to keep these surprisingly intelligent, sensitive giants.Chapters0:28 Introduction to Galapagos Tortoises3:29 Jason and Tara's Journey into Tortoise Keeping4:03 Natural History of Galapagos Tortoises10:48 Human Impact and Conservation Challenges21:57 Legalities of Keeping Galapagos Tortoises26:57 Captive Care and Husbandry38:15 Feeding and Nutritional Needs42:46 Behavioral Insights and Social Dynamics52:49 The Cost of Keeping Galapagos Tortoises1:03:34 Reflections on Tortoise Intelligence and Care1:10:39 Conclusion and Resources for Further LearningReferencesGaughran, S. J., Gray, R., Ochoa, A., Jones, M., Fusco, N., Miller, J. M., Poulakakis, N., de Queiroz, K., Caccone, A., & Jensen, E. L. (2024). Whole-genome sequencing confirms multiple species of Galapagos giant tortoises. Evolution, Volume 79, Issue 2, February 2025, Pages 296–308Gibbs, J. P., Cayot, L. J., & Tapia A, W. (2020). Galapagos Giant Tortoises (Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes). Academic Press.Kehlmaier, C., Barlow, A., Hastings, A. K., Vamberger, M., Paijmans, J. L., Steadman, D. W., Albury, N. A., Franz, R., Hofreiter, M., & Fritz, U. (2017). Tropical ancient DNA reveals relationships of the extinct Bahamian giant tortoise Chelonoidis alburyorum. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 284: 20162235Lichtig, A. & Lucas, S. (2015). Turtles of the lower Eocene San Jose formation, San Juan basin, New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History Bulletin. 161.Orenstein, R.(2012). Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins: A Natural History. Firefly BooksRhodin, A., Thomson, S., Georgalis, G., . Hans-Volker, K., Danilov, I., Takahashi, A., de la Fuente, M., Bourque, J., Delfino, M., Bour, R., Iverson, J., Shaffer, H.B., & van Dijk, P. P. (2015). Turtles and Tortoises of the World During the Rise and Global Spread of Humanity: First Checklist and Review of Extinct Pleistocene and Holocene Chelonians. Chelonian Research Monographs. 5. 1-66. Sadeghayobi, E., Blake, S., Wikelski, M., Gibbs, J., Mackie, R., & Cabrera, F.. (2011). Digesta retention time in the Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A. 160. 493-7. Vlachos, E, and Rabi, M. (2018). Total Evidence Analysis and Body Size Evolution of Extant and Extinct Tortoises (Testudines: Cryptodira: Pan-Testudinidae). Cladistics 34(6): 652–683.Wiesner, C, & Iben, C. (2003). Influence of environmental humidity and dietry protein on pyramidal growth of carapaces in African spurred tortoises (Geochelone Sulcata). Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. 87. 66-74.
