8 Galapagos Tortoises Found Killed

This image released by the Galapagos National Park shows a turtle shell near Villamil Port, in Isabela island, Galapagos, Ecuador, Tuesday, June 3, 2007. Park ranges found eight shells of Galapagos tortoises believed to be the result of poaching. Poaching and illegal fishing are one of many factors that have led to the disruption of the islands' ecosystem that served as the inspiration for scientist Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. (AP Photo/Galapagos National Park). (AP)

QUITO, Ecuador -- Rangers found the shells of eight endangered giant tortoises believed to have been killed by poachers, Galapagos National Park officials said Tuesday.

Poachers sometimes kill the protected tortoises and use the meat for consumption or for sale on the black market.

Of the remains discovered, five were up to 15 years old, and three were adult females _ possibly older than 80 _ the park said in a statement.

The park called their deaths a great loss, saying some had been hatched from artificially incubated eggs and raised for seven years by scientists before being released into their natural habitat.

Galapagos Islands authorities estimate there are about 7,000 of the giant tortoises left.

Some 625 miles off Ecuador's Pacific coast, the Galapagos are world-renowned for their unique plant and animal life. Charles Darwin's observations of the islands' finches inspired his theory of evolution.