00:00 And now a conservation effort.
00:04 In California, peers to be giving a critically endangered species a new lease on life.
00:09 70 little Mojave Desert tortoises successfully woke up after hibernating out in the wild for six months.
00:15 Wildlife officials say the youngsters opened their eyes for the first time since being returned to the desert in October.
00:21 Conservationists say that they considered the little ones from emerging from the deep winter slumber as a good sign for the animal.
00:29 The reptiles reintroduction is part of a broader initiative run by several wildlife organizations in the Golden State striving to save the species.
00:37 Scientists say the Mojave Desert tortoise was once common to the southwest, but its population dropped by 90% over the past two decades.
00:45 Researchers say the habitat loss and disease are just some of the factors that contributed to the reptiles decline, resulting in the tortoise being categorized as critically endangered.
00:55 (dramatic music)
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