Timekeepers: Lessons from Giant Tortoises

Timekeepers: What Giant Tortoises Teach Us About Health, Science, and Hope

When you encounter a giant tortoise in Galapagos, you’re not just seeing an animal—you’re seeing centuries of history moving slowly but steadily. These creatures, symbols of resilience and natural wisdom, have inhabited the archipelago long before humans arrived. Today, their survival depends on us and on the science striving to understand and protect them.

One of the passionate people behind this mission is Gislayne Mendoza, a researcher at the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF). Her work blends passion, science, and a deep commitment to her homeland: the Galapagos Islands.

Viruses in Giant Tortoises: A Discovery That Changes Conservation Plans

The Giant Tortoise Conservation team has focused on assessing the health status of these iconic species across the archipelago, including the presence of viruses that could threaten them.

In 2022, they published the first findings of adenovirus and herpesvirus in wild tortoises from Santa Cruz, Española, and Isabela. This year, a new study led by Gislayne identifies different types of adenoviruses in tortoises from San Cristóbal and southern Isabela, suggesting that each population may be living with distinct viruses. In the Cinco Cerros region, for example, adenovirus prevalence has been reported at 56%, while in other areas like Española and Wolf Volcano, no presence has been detected. This suggests that viruses are not evenly distributed across the islands and species.

“Not all viruses are a threat. What matters is knowing which viruses are present, in which populations, and how frequently—so we can avoid movements between areas that might endanger other tortoises,” Gislayne explains.

This knowledge allows authorities like the Galapagos National Park to improve breeding, reintroduction, and management programs.

One Health: Where Wildlife, Environment, and People Interconnect

The “One Health” approach gained prominence after the COVID-19 pandemic, not only as a way to understand it, but also to face current global challenges. The concept, introduced in the early 2000s, gave a name to what was known for over a century: human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected and interdependent. Gislayne and her team apply this perspective in their various research projects.
“Applying it in Galapagos not only protects tortoises, but also other species and those of us who share their habitat,” she says.

It’s crucial to pause and reflect: if everything is connected, any harm we cause in one area will affect the others, like a domino effect. If we keep displacing animals from their natural habitats and trampling on the rights of Mother Nature, there will inevitably be serious consequences for our own species.