The race to save the tortoise | 60 Minutes Archive

60 Minutes traveled to Madagascar back in 2012 to report on efforts being made to save endangered turtles and tortoises, including the plowshare tortoise, a species that remains at risk of extinction due to poaching for the illegal pet trade.
"60 Minutes" is the most successful television broadcast in history. Offering hard-hitting investigative reports, interviews, feature segments and profiles of people in the news, the broadcast began in 1968 and is still a hit, over 50 seasons later, regularly making Nielsen's Top 10.
Subscribe to the "60 Minutes" KZbin channel: / 60minutes
Watch full episodes: cbsn.ws/1Qkjo1F
Get more "60 Minutes" from "60 Minutes: Overtime": cbsnews.com/60-minutes/overtime/
Follow "60 Minutes" on Instagram: / 60minutes
Like "60 Minutes" on Facebook: / 60minutes
Follow "60 Minutes" on Twitter: / 60minutes
Subscribe to our newsletter: cbsnews.com/newsletters/
Download the CBS News app: cbsnews.com/mobile/
Try Paramount+ free: paramountplus.com/?ftag=PPM-0...
For video licensing inquiries, contact: [e-mail]

[@user-dj8mg3et2g]

I love it when people use their power for good.

[@tedadams1324]

This is nauseating and depressing simultaneously. These poor creatures are being destroyed because of ignorance, heartlessness, and greed. I hope that these efforts at saving them will succeed.

[@Lisa-qy3bp]

To right what ur saying its like the Galápagos Islands charging people to visit these beautifull tortoises there tortoises don’t need people only peace but these days they will do anything where moneys concerned

[@poke_hoard422]

It's always Asia...sharks, whales, turtles, the list goes on

[@oscarzabala7270]

... and the chinese... any endangered animal report has this phrase... and the chinese

[@poke_hoard422]

@@oscarzabala7270 china is also Asia but they are one of the biggest, if not the biggest consumer of endangered animals in Asia and the world. I do believe it has part to do with the Chinese laws around food and overpopulation as well as Chinese traditions, folklore etc. as most don't actually have great benefits they claim. They also love ginseng. One of the biggest buyers

[@matthewdarnell3535]

@@poke_hoard422that’s crazy! I don’t understand people sometimes.

[@philcavallini9657]

Anything with a heartbeat...it's pathetic !!!!

[@marie22213]

Isn't it amazing when you consider how small they usually are 🤦😂 it's really not funny but I wonder how could people so small need such delicacies. Jesus

[@ryan49805]

I always love and respect when a rich dude finds a good cause that isn’t self serving and spends his hard earned money. Good for him. 👍

[@BenjamintheTortoise]

I honestly had no idea... It's just so heartbreaking. We adopted an African Sulcata tortoise 3 years ago from a friend who could no longer care for it. He's a beloved member of the family and we simply adore him. He's changed our lives for the better in so many ways. Now we have such a passion, respect, and appreciate for all tortoises. Much love to those dedicating their lives to protect them 💖

[@Lisa-qy3bp]

Too true I own 4 sulcatas 3 of them are babies my relation ship broke down after 30 years of hell since owning sulcatas my life and children’s lives have something to live for sulcatas are my passion they help me on my darkest of days x

[@jamesthomas5109]

Love turtles and tortoises 🐢 ❤️ 💕

[@katlady567]

This is so sad and infuriating. These beautiful creatures have peacefully roamed the planet for millennia…until we developed various appetites for them and their homes. We humans suck.

[@richardthiele8363]

I remember catching box turtles when I was a boy. Painted turtles were harder to catch because they would hang out sunning themselves on rocks by the river and jump in if I got too close. Anyway, I never wanted to harm them and always released them. I hope they are ok.

[@GeorgePrice-vp6td]

God bless this man. I wish I had the money in funding to help him. We were given by God to be custodians of the Earth and we really suck. Where are the customs and the government of this country of Madagascar there's one thing there's no shortage of and that's people!!!!!

[@TheRunningLeopard]

Agreed, I wish more people of wealth worked to help various endangered species.

[@damomo13]

Hopefully it is all still working out for him and all the others that make his dream a reality

[@MrRobot898]

It's always food and medicine in Asia.

[@V1z10n]

Dumb, habit loss is more a problem.

[@epithos]

This is relevant to my interests.

[@susiq1121]

What's up with Asia, primarily China with their disrespect for mother nature? From rhinos, elephants, monkies, turtles....like wtf?

[@MrRobot898]

Nonsense traditional medicine that the ccp doesn't care to prosecute.

[@heidihunt8163]

What an amazing job you've done Sir and it broke my heart watching the footage ! ❤ I have a Hermanns too and he is my best friend ! 💘

[@MarcYanruw]

These tortoises have had it up to here with all this slow stereotypes. You know one of em beat the hare in a race

[@Jeremyramone]

In all seriousness they move faster than you would think. We have one here in the backyard and she s quick, like a big gator

[@courtneyzona]

My bf has 2, male and female, and they actually are quite quick. It’s risky to get distracted and have your toes out when they’re nearby lol

[@vector8310]

My god that gold tortoise was fantastic.

[@MH-pz8wf]

Save the tortoises and its savers! Heartbreaking of all the killing and suffering.

[@gedigi9010]

God Bless You

[@TikisGeckos]

Respect!

[@peace4peaceful]

I had actortoise as a kid in the UK. You can still own them there. But in Australia you have big problems owning anything tbh. Id love to breed tortoises. But they're only for the zoos. Never mind that we could breed them..even under license. The way things are going we will lose them

[@moizukage]

Governmental laws need to protect these people/establishments working to conserve these types of species. The offense for stealing a project aimed and conservation should be long to say the least.. that is beyond horrible and I can not comprehend how anyone could commit such crimes

[@ssholez]

This is near and dear to Mitch McConnell's heart 🐢

[@trevor5672]

😂😂😂😂

[@kellyharrison5184]

What a great, hope-filled story!

[@kitkat5596]

Worse thing that could have happen to this planet was the evolution of human beings, my heart breaks for all the innocent Animals suffering because of us, they dont deserve it. God bless the good people out there trying to make a difference.

[@marie22213]

I think many of us are evolving past it though. A huge portion have evolved out of the " eat whatever you see, caveman mentality" and we're aware. I think at some point while we won't outnumber those less evolved, we'll have more control. People are gonna get sick of scums ruining their environment. I even see it here in NYC people planting and protecting trees, helping animals etc some of us care ❤️

[@user-le3ut2rq3b]

THAT WAS TOTALLY THE BEST I’VE SEEN. GOD BLESS HIM. IT’S NICE TO SEE A MILLIONAIRE PUTTING SOME OF HIS FORTUNE TO GOOD USE. INSTEAD OF ALL PARTIES WHERE THE MONEY IS WASTED. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HEAR OF OTHERS DOING THE SAME. 👏👍😁🧑🏻‍🦳

[@TheRunningLeopard]

God, I love tortoises.

[@stellabella5269]

Me too! 😢

[@crosstatt7441]

He’s definitely a “Goode” guy named “Eric”. He’s definitely “Eric the Good”. Turtles and tortoises are really neat animals!

[@hannajoint2002]

Save the turtles and tortoises!!!

[@emiliog.4432]

Superstition and religion. The cause of so much suffering. Turtles don’t have magical powers.

[@isaiahthomas118]

>habitat loss >food >collector's items >pets only like 1, or maybe 2 of those is related to religion

[@watjejanssen7535]

just amazing

[@JetP20]

People are heartless, here we're talking about saving one creatures life while at his restaurant thousands must be killed to fulfil just the taste bud of his clients. This is why I sometimes find such people hypocrites.

[@moizukage]

Loser robbers stealing 75 babies that these workers worked hard to conserve is extremely infuriating

[@MrChemicals]

The turtle conservancy and Eric do much needed amazing work . A millionaire actually spending his money and in the field. If your going to donate give it to an organization like the Turtle Conservancy and not one that takes your donation and uses 99 percent of it on “administrative costs “

[@shaf60]

Its like the last stand .

[@drandy.myanmaryoutubechannel]

Turtles and tortoises are my favourite animals ❤️

[@matthewnowell671]

They're all cute little things!

[@sherriianiro747]

Too bad someone doesn't step up and work with the Magadascar givernment to save the island.

[@lightscameraalana]

My hermanns tortoise is the sweetest

[@miguelschoedel7691]

Amazing

[@stephansteohanlarsen7457]

I saw a tortoise in the Spiny Desert south eastern Madagascar

[@beexiong2171]

RIP to all the fallen animals reptiles birds etc. no longer living ya will be missed. 😢

[@crocodilelord2387]

This is my dream

[@Lisa-qy3bp]

He’s got the money to do it

[@noobbuilderproductions7865]

I wish I could give him a billion dollars

[@kasondaleigh]

I used to see turtles every day as a child. I haven’t seen one in years. Sad. Frogs too.

[@troymccomak1208]

Just create breeding centers in their native habitats and have the soldiers care for them as part of their duties under the direction of a resident biologist working for a UN backed Biological Remediation Group. Mount GPS tracking devices rather then ruining their shells. I blame Mario Brothers for all the turtle hate due to the antics of bowser.

[@waltertodd4479]

Nice...

[@theoccidilian4896]

Better than rocketing sports cars into space.

[@ghenefer]

Far better. This is so sad. 😂

[@moizukage]

I recently just purchased 3 sulcata tortoises :’)

[@user-xe4es4mq2k]

Lol you should have rescued them

[@lagasgtzcrafthobby3751]

he just a collector himself

[@TheCoolTeam]

12:00 Why is that man feeding his tortoises milk?

[@erick_fernandez_78910]

There’s got to be more awareness and underground ways to preserve them when geo-political-international/national law isn’t working.

[@leongliyang6946]

if red ear sliders turtle and sulcutta tortoise can breed till invasive... how come some of this will head extinct ?

[@julierogers1155]

Geezus

[@charlesboadi8513]

OOOh I LIKE AND LOVE NATURE:: HAVE A NICE WORKS 💪

[@judyrice7484]

Save Madagascar!

[@theoccidilian4896]

Could also attack demand - stigmatize buyers.

[@marie22213]

I'm not racist, we've all made mistakes but Asia is a big problem.. #1 there's alot of them #2 they've made it clear they won't stop eating things just for pleasure. Every country has something they've overkilled but Asia really takes it to the top. They say don't judge and stereotype but I mean it's just the audacity they have about it. Other countries usually will try to limit things yet China etc small as they are usually days " nope we're just gonna keep eating". Like as small as they are how could they even need some of the things they overkill and eat. It's really mind blowing, not to mention other parts of Asia aren't perfect but are able to eat w/o killing off the entire ocean. Bangladesh for example extremely crowded and many are poor. I'm sure they've overkilled an animal, as we all have, but in general you see them eating and surviving w/o eating entire ecosystems. That's most of the world, why Asia needs so much delicacy

[@rvchannel7768]

🙏🙏

[@martinhumble]

Is that Mitch?

[@rosee.2431]

😢

[@pearlrival3124]

the wild is gone. they are happy in 'confinement'. honestly with the right environment they wouldnt know the difference

[@MypronounIsKing]

Think about what you’re saying

[@catfishbi]

Tortoises is illegal in China to keep as pet.

[@Lisa-qy3bp]

Yeah it’s could HUMANS leave things WELL ALONE

[@judyrice7484]

This is horrible.

[@tarawhite4419]

Shelly turtles

[@tobyihli9470]

His only hope is to bring the endangered species to America where the earnings per capita is higher, and the uncorrupt security forces are better. He must! I can understand why he can’t purchase any of the animals in the illegal markets. What he has to realize is he will always get robbed in the native countries because robbing a reserve is as big to the natives as winning the lottery, or pulling off an art museum heist. $10,000 is a fortune over there. It’s worth risking their lives, or taking the lives of the hired security. He’s got to bring them to America, and only return animals out of an abundance.

[@lindasapiecha2515]

😊

[@noneofyourbuisness1679]

Now this is a millionaire I can get behind, for once. Not only using his power for good, but seems to have a good head endowed with common sense

[@stephansteohanlarsen7457]

The Greenland shark 🦈 get over four hundred years , so no, not oldest living animals on earth 🌍

[@SotasExotics]

Amazing video, my KZbin channel is towards the preservation of turtles and tortoises. Turtle fest is being held April 27th 2024 in Punta gorda florida. Cant wait :)

[@skinnywaterboys6108]

That’s was just posted six hours ago, but this is from 2012.

[@TheCoolTeam]

It's titled as 60 Minutes | Archive

[@rsenior7140]

Almost as slow as Joe Biden!

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

But the advantage is that a turtle or tortoise is slow - and sure.

[@lazarusdouvos]

always china

[@waltertodd4479]

And why is that so?

[@user-ew8xj5pg7y]

God loves you and takes care of you so that this message reaches you. God is the one who created this great universe and has complete control over it. And the greatest loss that a person loses in this life is that he lives while he does not know God who created him, knowing the Messenger of Muhammad, the last of the messengers, and the Islamic religion, the last of the heavenly religions. The great intelligence, before you believe in something or not, is to read it, study it, and understand it well, and then you have the choice to believe in it or not. I advise you on this now before you do not have time to do that.

[@user-vv7zo5jx5b]

Do you see how she wants to grab everything. The turtle shells that man's shoulder, they even tell her to watch where she steps. Very racist woman saying who knows where the turtle is going to end up leaving it with those people.