Colossal Foundation Supports Conservation of Bolson Tortoise
The Colossal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of de-extinction company Colossal, has announced a five-year commitment to the Turner Endangered Species Fund (TESF) to support the recovery and rewilding of the Bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus), North America’s largest and rarest tortoise. The initiative aims to restore the species within its prehistoric range. Once widespread across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, the Bolson tortoise disappeared from the U.S. more than 10,000 years ago and now survives only within Mexico’s Bolson de Mapimí UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. As a keystone species, its burrows create essential habitat for a variety of desert wildlife, making its restoration crucial for ecosystem health. Today, habitat loss, climate change, and illegal harvesting have pushed the species to Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List and Endangered status under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. This long-term commitment marks a significant step toward bolstering conservation efforts and restoring biodiversity across desert ecosystems.
Colossal Foundation Supports Conservation of Bolson Tortoise