- [Narrator] This is Goliath, a Galapagos tortoise.

He is massive.

At over 520 pounds,

he's one of the biggest tortoises in the world.

Goliath is believed to be in his 80s.

Galapagos tortoises have been known to live over 150 years.

They can go extended periods of time

without food or water, up to a year.

This unfortunately led to human exploitation.

Sailors on ships would bring these slow moving

defenseless giants on long voyages as a source of meat.

By the 1970s, only about 3,000 were left,

but through conservation and breeding efforts,

there are now over 20,000.

They've become a flagship species

for conservation efforts throughout the Galapagos.

But poaching and habitat loss are still a very real threat.

This is the Galapagos tortoise.

(slow piano music)