Unfortunately Jerry and I can’t really have claim to a new subspecies. Recent DNA research, which was published in the “Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research”, 18 January 2010, by Fritz, Daniels, Hofmeyer, Gonzalez, Barrio-Amoros, Siroky, Hundsdorfer, and Stuckas have concluded that the usage of subspecies within S. pardalis should be abandoned. Their work included DNA from the giant Ethiopian leopard Tortoises, S. p. babcocki, and S. p. pardalis.

It was an indescribable experience to see these giant tortoises in the wild. We found a total of 18 tortoises, which included, wild tortoises, captive tortoises, and tortoise shells. Our adventure involved nearly 10-days of travel throughout Ethiopia, which required an armed military escort for part of our expedition and permission from native tribes to cross their lands in the Great African Rift Valley and Ethiopian highlands.

Richard

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