Mojave Tortoises Return to the Desert

And now a conservation effort in California appears to be giving a critically endangered species a new lease on life.

70 little Mojave desert tortoises successfully woke up after hibernating out in the wild for 6 months. Wildlife officials say the youngsters opened their eyes for the first time since being returned to the desert in October. Conservationists say that they considered the little ones from emerging from the deep winter slumber as a good sign for the animal. The reptiles reintroduction is part of a broader initiative run by several wildlife organizations in the Golden State, striving to save the species.

Scientists say the Mojave desert tortoise was once common to the Southwest, but its population dropped by 90% over the past two decades. Researchers say the habitat loss and disease are just some of the factors that contributed to the reptiles’ decline resulting in the tortoise being categorized as critically endangered.