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Giant Galapagos tortoises used to be a [symbol / symbolic] for endangered animals. In the 1960s, there were just 15 of the animals [on / in] existence. They were dying [out / up] because wild goats were eating their food and [damaging / damages] their habitat. This caused conservationists to take action to help them. Forty years later, the tortoises [are / be] doing well. There are over 1,000 of [these / them] living and breeding in the wild. Scientists say it is a conservation [successfully / success] story. Conservationist James Gibb said: "What we [basically / basics] found over time is that about half of the tortoises that [were / was] released have survived." Mr Gibbs added: "That’s actually pretty amazing." Gibbs said the tortoises can now survive without human [helping / help] .

Giant tortoises used to live [every / all] over the world. People hunted them and [destroyed / destroying] their habitat, so they almost became extinct. Giant tortoise numbers [fall / fell] from over 250,000 in the 16th century to just a few [thousand / thousands] in the 1970s. Giant tortoises can weigh [up / heavy] to 250 kg and can live in the wild for over 100 years. One tortoise lived in [captive / captivity] for more than 170 years. Wikipedia says: "Tortoises also live very uncomplicated lives, and can [nap / nip] up to 16 hours a day." Mr Gibbs said the conservation story in the Galapagos Islands would [continual / continue] . Next year, a small island that lost all of its tortoises a few years ago will [get / let] 200 tortoises. Gibbs is [looking / look] forward to "another success".