Day 8 - Work at Tortuga Refuge -Galapagos 2014

Today was our first work day at Campo Duro. Our task was to remove invasive species and cut down vegetation from the giant tortoise enclosures. The papayas and banana trees had overgrown and were creating too much shade in the enclosure. According to a Galapagos Conservancy article I read "tortoises need a diet high in calcium to maintain the rigidity of their shells, which are made up of bone and keratin. Getting enough sun helps them metabolize calcium and properly digest their food." I read this article after we did the work at Campo Duro and it gave me so much satisfaction knowing that I had a small part in helping these magnificent animals.