Today I want to write about Galapagos giant tortoises because they are awesome, gentle giants and I would love to meet one in the wild one day.

Here are five interesting facts about them:

1. They are the largest land tortoise in the world, with some growing up to 1.5 metres long.  Males can weight up to 270 kilograms.
2. They were once so common that the Galapagos Islands are actually named after them.  Galapagos is the Spanish word for tortoise.
3. They aren’t as common any more, because sailors used to put them on their ships in large numbers so that they could eat their meat on long trips. More recently, introduced species to the Galapagos Islands, especially goats, have impacted their numbers.
4. These gentle giants are herbivores, eating grass, flowers and even cactus fruit.
5. They are one of the longest living animals in the world, with some living for as long as 150 years.

I hope that you found these facts interesting and learned something new.

Are there any other interesting facts that you would like to share about Galapagos giant tortoises?