DescriptionTortoise Monitoring and Research JTNP.jpg
NPS/Hannah Schwalbe
Biologists at Joshua Tree National Park track about 20 desert tortoises to assess their health and the health of the population. Tortoise research is completed as quickly as possible to minimize the amount of stress to the individual tortoise. Rangers only touch tortoises for research purposes or to safely move them if they are on a road. The vast majority of tortoises in Joshua Tree are never touched by humans as the park is their home. We ask that visitors maintain a respectful distance from tortoises and do not try to feed, pet or pick them up.
This image, originally posted to Flickr, was reviewed on 25 September 2019 by the administrator or reviewerChenzw, who confirmed that it was available on Flickr under the stated license on that date.
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