0:00:02 > 0:00:05- Hello, I'm Ferne...- And I'm Rory.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07Welcome to My Pet and Me Specials.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11Today, we're in one of the most amazing places in the world.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14We've travelled all the way from the UK to just off the
0:00:14 > 0:00:18coast of Ecuador in South America, to the Galapagos Islands.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21We've made this trip to find out more about the most
0:00:21 > 0:00:23incredible wildlife on the planet.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Some of the animals that live here cannot be found anywhere
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- else in the world. - We're going to meet some children
0:00:30 > 0:00:34who live on the islands, who know more about these animals.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38- What are your plans today, Rory? - I'm off to meet the animal that the
0:00:38 > 0:00:42- Galapagos Islands are named after. - That sounds awesome, have fun.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46- Thanks very much. You can come with me too.- Hasta luego.- Hasta luego.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49# My pet My pet and me
0:00:49 > 0:00:51# My pet My pet and me
0:00:51 > 0:00:56# Down every street Are pets to meet
0:00:56 > 0:00:59# Some big, some small Some scaly, some furry
0:00:59 > 0:01:03# Some keep very still Some are always in a hurry
0:01:03 > 0:01:06# Some have four paws
0:01:06 > 0:01:08# Some have sharp claws
0:01:08 > 0:01:09- # Some quack - Some bark
0:01:09 > 0:01:11- # Some purr - Some moo
0:01:11 > 0:01:12- # Some grunt - Some squawk
0:01:12 > 0:01:15# Some cock-a-doodle-doo
0:01:15 > 0:01:18# My pet My pet and me
0:01:18 > 0:01:21# My pet My pet and me
0:01:21 > 0:01:23# My pet My pet and me
0:01:23 > 0:01:25# Have you met My pet and me? #
0:01:36 > 0:01:38I'm here in Santa Cruz,
0:01:38 > 0:01:41which is the second-largest of the Galapagos Islands,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45and I'm here to meet Ciara and her dad. Let's go and find them.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47MUSIC PLAYS
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Hola, Ciara.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04- Hola, Rory. - And you must be dad, hola.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08- Hola, Rory.- I am very excited, because I think you are going to
0:02:08 > 0:02:12introduce me to one of the most famous animals in the Galapagos.
0:02:12 > 0:02:13- Is that right?- Yes.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Tell me about this animal, what does it look like?
0:02:16 > 0:02:19It has a long neck.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21OK, they have a long neck.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24- What else?- A big shell.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Right. Big shell.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28They can live a long time.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Wow.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32How long can it live?
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Over 100 years.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Over 100 years?!
0:02:36 > 0:02:39That is very old, I'm very impressed.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41- What size are they? - They are very big.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45Wow. OK, so let me think about this.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47So it's got a long neck, a big shell,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50and it can live for over 100 years.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52It can only be a Galapagos giant tortoise.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54- Yes, Rory.- Of course.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58And you have drawn a beautiful giant tortoise, here, haven't you?
0:02:58 > 0:03:02That's great. So, are we going to see a giant tortoise today?
0:03:02 > 0:03:04- Yes, Rory.- Now, this is exciting.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09Galapagos giant tortoises are among the largest living land reptiles in
0:03:09 > 0:03:12the world. They can grow up to four feet in length,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15which is about the same height as Ciara,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17and they can be as heavy as four grown men.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21That's very heavy. You couldn't carry one, could you?
0:03:21 > 0:03:22No, Rory.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27So, Ciara, tell me how the Galapagos Islands got their name
0:03:27 > 0:03:28from the giant tortoise.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32- Galapagos means saddle in Spanish. - Of course, yes.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36When Spanish sailors discovered the Galapagos Islands,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40they saw the giant tortoise and noticed some of their shells
0:03:40 > 0:03:41are shaped like a saddle.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44And the word, saddle, in Spanish is galapago.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48- And that's how the Galapagos Islands got their name.- Exactly, Rory!
0:03:48 > 0:03:50That makes a lot of sense.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54You could say the giant tortoise is the most famous animal in
0:03:54 > 0:03:56- the Galapagos Islands.- That's right.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00- You wouldn't have a giant tortoise as a pet, would you?- No, Rory!
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Of course, because they're wild animals.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- So where can we go and see them? - In the Highlands National Park.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10Brilliant. Ferne, while we go up to the Highlands,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13can you tell us some cool facts about our big, ancient,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16- giant tortoise friends? - Of course, Rory.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20There are lots of different species of Galapagos giant tortoise.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Some of their shells are dome-shaped,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25and others are saddle-backed.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Giant tortoises don't have any teeth, so they use the
0:04:32 > 0:04:37bony outer edges of their mouth to bite off and mash up food.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Once in the mouth, the food is swallowed quickly.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48Tortoises have good eyesight, and this helps them find their food.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Anything that is brightly coloured gets their attention.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56A giant tortoise's shell is partly made of bone,
0:04:56 > 0:04:59and it cannot be removed from the rest of their body.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03When they feel frightened or threatened, they can pull their head
0:05:03 > 0:05:07and legs inside their shell to help protect them.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10MUSIC PLAYS
0:05:11 > 0:05:14My Pet And Me!
0:05:21 > 0:05:23We've come to the Highlands of Santa Cruz
0:05:23 > 0:05:25to track the giant tortoises.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30Tracking means looking for signs of an animal, and trying to find them.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- Why do they come to the Highlands? - There's more food here.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Yes, absolutely. There's more food here,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39because it's colder and a lot drier at this time of year.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43The tortoises have to move up lower land to find the food.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Later in the year, when it's warmer and wetter,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48they go back down to lower land again.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52- So what do we need to do to look for the tortoises?- Look down.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Great, let's go then, come on.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The Galapagos giant tortoises are a protected species,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13and Ciara's dad has a very special job, don't you?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Yes, I am Galapagos National Park ranger.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Brilliant, so you keep the giant tortoises safe and protected?
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- Yes, Rory.- Fantastic. - Well, I hope we find one soon.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32So what signs of the giant tortoise are we looking for?
0:06:32 > 0:06:35- A squashed plant.- Ah, of course. Squashed plants.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39The flattened paths that they've made from walking, OK.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- Look, Rory!- Wow! Yes, there's one there.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Let's go and take a closer look.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50This is awesome!
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Wow. These have a special name, don't they?
0:06:53 > 0:06:56- Tortoise highways.- Absolutely.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58A highway is another word for a road,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01and this is a path that tortoises have made.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04OK, we must be close, they've got to be nearby.
0:07:04 > 0:07:05Let's keep looking.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Look! Another sign.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19- Tortoise poo.- Yes.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Let's have a look at this.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Galapagos tortoises are very large, so they need to eat a lot,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and, of course, that means they poo a lot as well.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32But that is quite important, because they spread the seeds of the
0:07:32 > 0:07:35plants and fruit that they eat all around the island.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38They've got a special nickname, don't they, Dad?
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- Gardeners of the Galapagos. - That is a cool nickname.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Now, this poo looks and smells...
0:07:46 > 0:07:48..very fresh. So, where are they?
0:07:48 > 0:07:49Come on, Rory.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Look, Rory, there are tortoises!
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Oh, yes, amazing! Let's go and have a closer look.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Wow! Look at this guy eating!
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Let's get a closer look at this one.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16Look at that.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19You were not joking when you said they were very big.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23What an amazing creature, I can't believe the size!
0:08:23 > 0:08:25- What type of tortoises are they? - Dome-shaped.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28That's right, they're dome-shaped tortoises.
0:08:28 > 0:08:33Dome-shaped tortoises are a great shape for pushing through the bushes
0:08:33 > 0:08:36and flattening them down so they can find their food.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40What clever creatures. What kind of things do they like to eat?
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- Grass and guava. - Oh, delicious, grass and guava.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47Guava is a fruit found in many warm countries and tortoises love it.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50They're herbivores, do you know what that means?
0:08:50 > 0:08:53- They eat plants. - Yes, absolutely right.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Herbivores are vegetarians.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Let's have a look at the tortoise, how do they move?
0:08:59 > 0:09:03- They walk slowly. - Very slowly.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08You are a very good tortoise!
0:09:10 > 0:09:11Good work.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19- Let's find some more! - Great idea, come on, let's go.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Wow, look at all these guys!
0:09:36 > 0:09:40- What are they doing? - They are having a mud bath.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42That's right, having a mud bath.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Why do they need mud baths?
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- To keep cool. - Absolutely right, yes.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Just like pigs, giant tortoises love to wallow in the mud or water,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53to keep themselves cool in the heat.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57It's also a great way of keeping the bugs off them.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59It's a little bit messy, isn't it?
0:09:59 > 0:10:03There are a lot of tortoises here, aren't there?
0:10:07 > 0:10:10OK, look at this one moving.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Very slowly, through the mud.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17And, look at these ones drinking.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22HE SLURPS
0:10:27 > 0:10:29They're chilling out.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32They really are, aren't they? It looks very relaxing.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35- Would you like a mud bath? - No, Rory!
0:10:35 > 0:10:39Of course not! Come on, let's keep looking.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- There are so many giant tortoises! - Yeah, there are, look!
0:10:55 > 0:10:58Two big ones here, a big one behind us.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Look at them all.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03I love watching them.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Me too. And this guy's having a really good look at us, isn't he?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11I think he's going to eat soon.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Look at him stretching his neck out. You can stretch your neck out?
0:11:15 > 0:11:16Stretch!
0:11:20 > 0:11:24And that long neck is great for helping them pull the grass
0:11:24 > 0:11:26from the ground. He's eating.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Galapagos giant tortoises can eat for between
0:11:31 > 0:11:32five and seven hours a day.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- That's a lot of munching, isn't it? - Yes.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39However, they can go for a long time without eating or drinking anything
0:11:39 > 0:11:44at all, because they're so good at storing food and water. Incredible.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Oh, look! A big yawn.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48HE YAWNS
0:11:50 > 0:11:54So, Ciara, how do you tell the difference between a male and a
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- female tortoise? - The male has a bigger tail.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00That's right, the males have got a much bigger tail
0:12:00 > 0:12:03than the female tortoises.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- What else is different? - The male is bigger.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10Yes, the male is much, much bigger than the female.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12They can get really huge.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Look at that guy behind us, there.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- He is big!- Yeah, really big!
0:12:20 > 0:12:22He must be quite old as well.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Do you know how to tell that big tortoises are old?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27- They have a smooth shell. - Yes, they do.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30The older tortoises have a very smooth shell,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33because they've been walking around for a long time,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36and those plates on the shell have worn away.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Some of these tortoises must be over 100 years old.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43- That's a lot of birthday candles on the cake, isn't it?- Yes.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47These ones must be a bit younger, because we can still see the bumps.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- Yes.- Very beautiful, aren't they?
0:12:52 > 0:12:55I would like to relax as much as a tortoise,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58because they can sleep up for to 16 hours a day.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01It would be wonderful to be a Galapagos giant tortoise.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- Chilled out all the time. - Yeah, Rory.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15My Pet And Me!
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Giant tortoises are amazing creatures, aren't they?
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- They're my favourite. - I can see why. They're beautiful.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29But if they could do anything, what do you think they'd do?
0:13:33 > 0:13:38If the giant tortoises could do anything,
0:13:38 > 0:13:43they would go to a water park.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47They would have great fun lying down
0:13:47 > 0:13:51through the water slide on their shell.
0:13:51 > 0:13:58They will make huge splashes when they land in the water,
0:13:58 > 0:14:02because they are so big.
0:14:02 > 0:14:03Splashy splash!
0:14:08 > 0:14:12We've come to a very special centre in Santa Cruz that plays an
0:14:12 > 0:14:16important part in protecting Galapagos giant tortoises.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18So, Ciara, what can we hope to see today?
0:14:18 > 0:14:21- It's a surprise, Rory! - I love surprises!
0:14:21 > 0:14:22Let's go!
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Wow! Baby giant tortoises!
0:14:39 > 0:14:42They are gorgeous!
0:14:42 > 0:14:44This is incredible, look!
0:14:44 > 0:14:46How many are there?
0:14:46 > 0:14:51Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez, once,
0:14:51 > 0:14:57doce, trece, catorze, quince, dieciseis, diecisiete, dieciocho.
0:14:57 > 0:15:0218 baby giant tortoises! Aren't they adorable? Look at them!
0:15:02 > 0:15:06These baby tortoises have been in the centre since they were tiny
0:15:06 > 0:15:09eggs, when they were collected from the wild by rangers.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13On the Galapagos Islands, there are dogs, pigs and rats,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16that have been eating the eggs of giant tortoises.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20When the eggs are collected and brought here, they're kept safe,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23until the tortoises are big enough to be reintroduced
0:15:23 > 0:15:27back into the wild. What an amazing job they do here.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- What are they like? - They have a tiny shell.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Yes, it's very small, but it's going to be very big one day.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35- It will be very big!- Si.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39They walk quite quickly, don't they? Much faster than the adults.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42- Look, he's eating.- Yes, he is.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Nibbling away on a leaf, there.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Mmm, delicious.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Those tiny little mouths.
0:15:54 > 0:15:58Even though they're very small, they still have a very strong neck.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01- They are strong.- Si.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05- And how old are these baby tortoises?- One year.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07One-year-old, they're very cute.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09And it's hard to imagine that one day,
0:16:09 > 0:16:12these tiny baby tortoises are going to grow
0:16:12 > 0:16:15into the big Galapagos giant tortoises
0:16:15 > 0:16:17we saw earlier today, isn't it?
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Yes, Rory. It is incredible.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23How old will they be when they're released back into the wild?
0:16:23 > 0:16:25- Four or five years.- Wow.
0:16:25 > 0:16:31- So these guys have got a few more years to go.- Yes.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Do you think these guys will enjoy having a big mud bath
0:16:35 > 0:16:37- when they're older?- Yes, Rory.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40They've only got this little bath just now.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43But when they're giant, they're going to have a huge mud bath
0:16:43 > 0:16:45to squelch around in.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49This is a fantastic surprise. Look how cute they are!
0:16:53 > 0:16:56I feel so lucky to have seen baby giant tortoises,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58they are just incredible.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Ciara, I've had such a brilliant time finding out
0:17:01 > 0:17:05about these very special animals. Thank you very much.
0:17:05 > 0:17:06You're welcome, Rory.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13My Pet And Me!
0:17:19 > 0:17:21- Hi, Ferne.- Hi, Rory.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25Check out all of these marine iguanas! It's so special!
0:17:25 > 0:17:29- I know!- There's loads. So, how was it?- Oh, Ferne, it was awesome.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Ciara and I managed to track giant tortoises,
0:17:32 > 0:17:35and we even got to see little baby ones at the centre!
0:17:35 > 0:17:37That sounds incredible. You're so lucky!
0:17:37 > 0:17:42I feel privileged to have seen such awesome creatures in the wild,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45and to see what the local people are doing to protect them.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47Thank you for spending time with us,
0:17:47 > 0:17:51we just love sharing our animal adventures with you.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56# Look where we've been
0:17:56 > 0:17:59# Look what we've seen
0:17:59 > 0:18:02# Thank you so much for showing us
0:18:02 > 0:18:05# The animals of the Galapagos
0:18:05 > 0:18:11# On land or sea So much to seek
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- # Iguanas, crab - And turtles too
0:18:14 > 0:18:17- # Flamingos, sharks - A giant tortoise or two
0:18:17 > 0:18:20# Amazing wildlife to look at
0:18:20 > 0:18:23# In its natural habitat
0:18:23 > 0:18:26# Animals we've not seen before
0:18:26 > 0:18:29# Come back soon and see some more
0:18:29 > 0:18:32# My pet, my pet and me
0:18:32 > 0:18:35# My pet, my pet and me
0:18:35 > 0:18:38# My pet, my pet and me
0:18:38 > 0:18:41# Come back and see
0:18:41 > 0:18:42# My pet and me. #
0:18:42 > 0:18:44ALL: Bye.