The eastern Mojave Desert region saw a population decline of 10%, or 5,000 tortoises, during the same time period. The Colorado Desert saw a decrease of 17%, representing about 13,000 tortoises.

The Colorado Desert in the eastern portion of the park features natural gardens of creosote bush, ocotillo and cholla cactus. The higher, slightly cooler Mojave Desert offers dazzling vistas of Joshua ...

It's important to note that desert tortoises in California and the Southwest are two separate species. In a 2011 study, scientists declared that tortoises living north and west of the Colorado River — ...