This footage was filmed and produced 15 April 2024.

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In a heartening conservation effort, seventy critically endangered Mojave desert tortoises have emerged from winter brumation, marking a significant milestone in their reintroduction into their native habitat on Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. Spearheaded by the collaborative efforts of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, alongside partners including Edwards Air Force Base, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey, this initiative aims to bolster the survival of these iconic reptiles through innovative headstarting techniques.

The young tortoises, recipients of a combined indoor and outdoor rearing approach, represent the pioneering cohort in this conservation program. Just 24 hours after their return to the wild, they displayed promising natural behaviors, such as constructing or modifying burrows for shelter. Now emerging from their winter dormancy, they are observed basking at burrow entrances, signaling their successful adaptation to their environment.

Critical to the success of this endeavor is the strategic rearing process, wherein scientists monitor gravid desert tortoises, rear hatchlings, and nurture them through their vulnerable early stages. By providing indoor care at The Living Desert, the tortoises undergo accelerated growth, reducing their susceptibility to predation upon release.

James Danoff-Burg, Ph.D., Director of Conservation at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, underscores the importance of headstarting in mitigating juvenile mortality rates and predation, enhancing the prospects of successful reintroductions.

However, these efforts unfold against a backdrop of environmental challenges, including habitat loss, disease, and climate change, contributing to the alarming decline of desert tortoise populations. With the species teetering on the brink of extinction, concerted conservation endeavors offer a glimmer of hope for their recovery.