The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall have visited the Charles Darwin Research Station on the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz, a tortoise breeding centre where the world's largest tortoises inhabit.
Whilst there, Charles and Camilla also welcomed a new member of the Royal Family - a baby tortoise which they named William after Charles's eldest son, even though they don't know the tortoise's gender.
Environmentalist Charles said: 'If it turns out not to be a boy, it will become Wilhelmina instead!' The royal couple became the tortoise's godparents.
Charles and Camilla also met the world-famous Lonesome George, the last survivor of his breed, who is around 80-years-old.
Before the Prince left, he was made an honorary warden of Galapagos National Park, which covers 97 per cent of the islands, where Charles Darwin began formulating his theory of evolution by natural selection.
Prince Philip, Prince Charles's father, visited the Galapagos Islands 40 years ago.
Charles gives baby Galapagos tortoise a name fit for a prince - but will William be amused?
By Daily Mail Reporter
18th March 2009
Daily Mail
The Prince of Wales says he will be in trouble with his eldest son after naming a baby giant tortoise after him.
Charles became the young reptile's godparent along with the Duchess of Cornwall yesterday when they visited a tortoise breeding centre on the Galapagos Islands.
William the tortoise, two years old and only about six inches long, was previously known only by the number 53 painted on his back.
Sweet William: Camilla and Charles are introduced to their tortoise godchild
In naming a Galapagos tortoise, the Prince of Wales was enjoying an honour routinely accorded to visiting dignitaries
But he seemed in two minds as to whether his eldest son would also feel honoured to have inspired the name.
Prince Charles said: 'I think it will be quite fun if he ever comes here one day to find that there's a tortoise named after him - I'll probably get into terrible trouble.'
It will hardly help that the tortoise's sex remains a mystery.
Inspiration: But William may not be amused by his father's choice of name
Charles said: 'Of course they don't really know apparently what sex it is, so that's interesting.'
He added: 'If it turns out not to be a boy, it will become Wilhelmina instead.'
In a further tortoise encounter at the Charles Darwin Research Station on the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz, the royal couple met the world-famous Lonesome George, last survivor of his breed.
The venerable reptile - thought to be around 80 years old - ventured out from the shade of his enclosure into the scorching sunshine to greet his visitors and left them stunned at his size.
'Darling, did you see the size of him?' the Prince was heard to say.
George, who weighs around 88kg, was found on arid Pinta Island in 1972 and taken into captivity for his safety because he is the sole example of his tortoise subspecies.
But Galapagos conservationists have failed to get him breed and the subspecies will die with him.
Guide Edgar Munos told the royal couple: 'He only came to welcome you - it's too hot, he's going back in the shade.'
Whalers and fishermen reduced the numbers of the Galapagos tortoises from an estimated 200,000 in the 18th century to around 15,000 today as the animals were a useful source of food during long voyages, surviving up to a year in a ship's hold without food and water.
Before the Prince left, he was made an honorary warden of Galapagos National Park, which covers 97 per cent of the islands, where Charles Darwin began formulating his theory of evolution by natural selection.
He's huge! Prince Charles and Camilla marvel at the famous Lonesome George
Later the royal couple travelled to nearby Pelican Bay to view an exhibition of sustainable tourism projects.
The Prince and Duchess learned how fishermen's wives have launched a bakery to supplement their family's income, and how - in an initiative set up by a former fisherman - cruise ship companies who want an operating licence for the Galapagos Islands must now prove they recycle their waste oil.
dailymail.co.uk
Whilst there, Charles and Camilla also welcomed a new member of the Royal Family - a baby tortoise which they named William after Charles's eldest son, even though they don't know the tortoise's gender.
Environmentalist Charles said: 'If it turns out not to be a boy, it will become Wilhelmina instead!' The royal couple became the tortoise's godparents.
Charles and Camilla also met the world-famous Lonesome George, the last survivor of his breed, who is around 80-years-old.
Before the Prince left, he was made an honorary warden of Galapagos National Park, which covers 97 per cent of the islands, where Charles Darwin began formulating his theory of evolution by natural selection.
Prince Philip, Prince Charles's father, visited the Galapagos Islands 40 years ago.
Charles gives baby Galapagos tortoise a name fit for a prince - but will William be amused?
By Daily Mail Reporter
18th March 2009
Daily Mail
The Prince of Wales says he will be in trouble with his eldest son after naming a baby giant tortoise after him.
Charles became the young reptile's godparent along with the Duchess of Cornwall yesterday when they visited a tortoise breeding centre on the Galapagos Islands.
William the tortoise, two years old and only about six inches long, was previously known only by the number 53 painted on his back.
Sweet William: Camilla and Charles are introduced to their tortoise godchild
In naming a Galapagos tortoise, the Prince of Wales was enjoying an honour routinely accorded to visiting dignitaries
But he seemed in two minds as to whether his eldest son would also feel honoured to have inspired the name.
Prince Charles said: 'I think it will be quite fun if he ever comes here one day to find that there's a tortoise named after him - I'll probably get into terrible trouble.'
It will hardly help that the tortoise's sex remains a mystery.
Inspiration: But William may not be amused by his father's choice of name
Charles said: 'Of course they don't really know apparently what sex it is, so that's interesting.'
He added: 'If it turns out not to be a boy, it will become Wilhelmina instead.'
In a further tortoise encounter at the Charles Darwin Research Station on the Galapagos island of Santa Cruz, the royal couple met the world-famous Lonesome George, last survivor of his breed.
The venerable reptile - thought to be around 80 years old - ventured out from the shade of his enclosure into the scorching sunshine to greet his visitors and left them stunned at his size.
'Darling, did you see the size of him?' the Prince was heard to say.
George, who weighs around 88kg, was found on arid Pinta Island in 1972 and taken into captivity for his safety because he is the sole example of his tortoise subspecies.
But Galapagos conservationists have failed to get him breed and the subspecies will die with him.
Guide Edgar Munos told the royal couple: 'He only came to welcome you - it's too hot, he's going back in the shade.'
Whalers and fishermen reduced the numbers of the Galapagos tortoises from an estimated 200,000 in the 18th century to around 15,000 today as the animals were a useful source of food during long voyages, surviving up to a year in a ship's hold without food and water.
Before the Prince left, he was made an honorary warden of Galapagos National Park, which covers 97 per cent of the islands, where Charles Darwin began formulating his theory of evolution by natural selection.
He's huge! Prince Charles and Camilla marvel at the famous Lonesome George
Later the royal couple travelled to nearby Pelican Bay to view an exhibition of sustainable tourism projects.
The Prince and Duchess learned how fishermen's wives have launched a bakery to supplement their family's income, and how - in an initiative set up by a former fisherman - cruise ship companies who want an operating licence for the Galapagos Islands must now prove they recycle their waste oil.
dailymail.co.uk
