Part 9/14:
In an extraordinary act of Pleistocene rewilding, Turner set out to resurrect a species fallen from the American landscape over 10,000 years ago— the Bolson tortoise. Once a giant among reptiles, these tortoises disappeared with the end of the Ice Age, leaving only remnants in distant Mexico. By acquiring a small group of tortoises in 2006 and employing “head-start” techniques—raising young in predator-proof enclosures—Turner’s team has successfully produced over 800 hatchlings.
Releasing these "living fossils" into their ancestral habitats not only restores a prehistoric species but also exemplifies innovative conservation that reconnects with the land’s ancient history, providing invaluable insights into extinction and resilience.