In an unlikely partnership between military might and wildlife conservation, the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, California, has become home to a unique sanctuary protecting one of the desert's most vulnerable residents - the endangered desert tortoise.
The facility, nicknamed "Tortoise Gitmo" for its barbed wire enclosure, houses approximately 1,000 young tortoises in a sheltered habitat designed to protect them from predators and military training activities. Officially known as the Tortoise Research and Captive Rearing Site, the sanctuary was established in 2005 to help preserve this keystone species whose population has plummeted by up to 96% in some areas since the 1970s.
"The desert tortoise has a disproportionate effect on the entire ecosystem," explains Brian Henen, who leads the conservation branch of the base's Environmental Affairs Division. These hardy reptiles create burrows that provide shelter for other desert wildlife and help disperse native plant seeds through their droppings.
The sanctuary received a major influx of residents in 2017 when the military relocated tortoises to accommodate base expansion. The facility now focuses on "head-starting" - raising young tortoises until their shells are tough enough to withstand predators, particularly ravens whose desert population has increased dramatically due to human development.
While some conservationists criticize the program as distracting from habitat preservation concerns, the Marine Corps has implemented strict protocols to protect tortoises. Training exercises halt immediately if a tortoise is spotted, and Marines receive specialized training in handling these protected reptiles. The base has also set aside 43,800 acres as restricted areas for wildlife protection.
Inside the facility, tortoises ranging from playing-card size to full grown adults are housed in netted enclosures. Among the residents is "Typhoid Mary," a 30-year-old tortoise who earned her nickname by carrying bacteria that causes respiratory disease. She enthusiastically greets caretakers by banging her shell against metal dividers when it's feeding time.
The program represents an innovative approach to species conservation, combining military resources with scientific expertise. While debates continue about the best methods to protect desert tortoises, this unusual sanctuary in the Mojave Desert offers hope for a species fighting for survival in an increasingly challenging environment.