Sterile Giant Tortoise Lawnmowers

In a story that sounds like it came straight from a Flintstones episode, Pinta Island conservations are using giant tortoises to regulate out of control native vegetation. The island was home to Lonesome George once thought to be the last of the Pinta giant tortoise breed. These lawnmowers on the half shell were sterilized to prevent them from colonizing the island. Plans are afoot to recolonise Pinta Island with Española tortoises who are more closely related to Lonesome George. Reports say the tortoise/lawnmowers have wasted no time in getting down to the business  of regulating the herbaceous plants. Link - (Image: Jose Jacome/EPA/Corbis)