<P> The remaining species of tortoise range in IUCN classification from extinct in the wild to vulnerable . Slow growth rate, late sexual maturity, and island endemism make the tortoises particularly prone to extinction without help from conservationists . The Galápagos giant tortoise has become a flagship species for conservation efforts throughout the Galápagos . </P> <Dl> <Dt> Legal protection </Dt> </Dl> <P> The Galápagos giant tortoise is now strictly protected and is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora . The listing requires that trade in the taxon and its products is subject to strict regulation by ratifying states, and international trade for primarily commercial purposes is prohibited . In 1936, the Ecuadorian government listed the giant tortoise as a protected species . In 1959, it declared all uninhabited areas in the Galápagos to be a national park and established the Charles Darwin Foundation . In 1970, capturing or removing many species from the islands (including tortoises and their eggs) was banned . To halt trade in the tortoises altogether, it became illegal to export the tortoises from Ecuador, captive or wild, continental, or insular in provenance . The banning of their exportation resulted in automatic prohibition of importation to the United States under Public Law 91 - 135 (1969). A 1971 Ecuadorian decree made it illegal to damage, remove, alter, or disturb any organism, rock, or other natural object in the National Park . </P> <Dl> <Dt> Captive breeding </Dt> </Dl>

Is it legal to own a galapagos tortoise