The Galapagos Giant Turtle (Geochelone elephantopus) has a lifespan of well over a century; some individuals may have lived to two centuries. It is also a highly endangered species, due to all the usual reasons.

So, for a hefty sum ($50,000?), allow individuals to "adopt" a particular giant tortoise. The tortoise is tagged with a radio transponder, but left in the wild. The money is invested to fund conservation efforts.

With your donation, you get visitation rights. Take your family to the Galapagos; conservation staff will take you on a safari to find your turtle. They're large, gentle herbivores; your kids can walk right up, touch the shell, and maybe even go for a "ride" (?).

The neat thing, and the reason the cost is so high, is that the tortoise is a living heirloom. In 200 years, your great-great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren could still be visiting the same tortoise. (Imagine if you could visit a tortoise which an ancestor of yours adopted in 1800!)

When the animal finally dies, the money is refunded to your estate (without interest).
-- egnor, Apr 14 2001

Adopt an endangered manatee. http://www.savethem...ee.org/adoptpag.htm
Significantly less expensive, but with less benefits for the adoptor. [beauxeault, Apr 14 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Sure. Everybody wins. Could also post a website with all sponsored tortoise's current positions, and a brief note of thanks to each of their sponsors.
-- Dog Ed, Apr 15 2001


Now, where did I put my wallet?...
-- DrBob, Apr 15 2001


It can't be that affordable; there are only ~500 left in the wild.
-- egnor, Apr 15 2001


I know, but I couldn't find an adoption agency for giant tortoises. The cool thing about the tortoise is the lifespan; most animals won't outlive you, let alone the next six generations of your family.

Visitation rights are also important; a big part of the appeal is the ability to feel the shell of the tortoise your great^6 grandparents adopted.
-- egnor, Apr 15 2001


Crocodiles live for 200-300 years? Do you have a reference for that?

I'm not sure it would be such a great idea to have the kids go up and pet the croc.
-- egnor, Apr 16 2001


Defining "lifespan" for a fungus might be tricky; some of them are close to an undifferentiated morass of cells, and who's to say when one "organism" dies and another takes its place?

But then, I'm no biologist.
-- egnor, May 09 2001


I'd like to visit a tortoise an ancestor adopted in 1800. But I just realized I'd rather have my share of the $50,000, with two centuries of compounded interest.
-- beauxeault, May 09 2001


Peter-what about goats?
-- AfroAssault, Jun 04 2001


"Egnor, you could also do it with crocodiles. Lifespans of 200-300 years."

Where did you get this idea from?
-- distortions, Dec 16 2003


//I'm not sure it would be such a great idea to have the kids go up and pet the croc//

"Strangely, I later learnt that my great-great grandfather had also had a prosthetic hand..."
-- lostdog, Dec 16 2003



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