Giant Tortoises Reintroduced to Floreana Island
Galápagos authorities released 158 captive‑bred juvenile hybrid tortoises to Floreana following a 2008 discovery and a 2017 back‑breeding program, aiming to restore the island's ecosystem.
Overview
Galápagos authorities released 158 captive‑bred juvenile hybrid tortoises onto Floreana Island on Friday, marking the first roaming of giant tortoises there in more than 180 years.
The release follows a back‑breeding program launched in 2017 after scientists discovered tortoises with Floreana ancestry on Wolf Volcano in 2008, an effort aimed at restoring Floreana's depleted ecosystem.
The Galápagos Conservation Trust called the reintroduction a "hugely significant milestone," and Dr Jen Jones described it as "truly spine‑tingling," according to a GCT statement.
These 158 tortoises are part of up to 700 planned for Floreana and carry between 40% and 80% of the genetic makeup of Chelonoidis niger, researchers said.
An invasive species eradication program begun in 2023 removed most rats and feral cats, and officials said the next restoration phase will seek to reintroduce species such as the Floreana mockingbird and racer snake.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage neutrally, focusing on factual details, expert and official statements, and local reaction without loaded language. They prioritize scientific context (genetic percentages, breeding program goals), include community voices, and avoid ideological framing or omitted counter-views, producing straightforward conservation reporting grounded in verifiable facts.
Sources (4)
FAQ
Giant tortoises on Floreana were driven to extinction around 150-180 years ago primarily due to hunting by whalers who removed thousands for food.
In 2008, tortoises with Floreana ancestry (Chelonoidis niger genetics) were discovered on Wolf Volcano; 23 individuals were selected for a back-breeding program started in 2017 at a captive breeding center on Santa Cruz.
The 158 juvenile hybrid tortoises carry between 40% and 80% of the genetic makeup of the original Chelonoidis niger species.
An eradication program started in 2023 successfully removed most rats and feral cats from Floreana Island.
Up to 700 tortoises are planned for release; the next phase includes reintroducing 12 native species such as the Floreana mockingbird and racer snake as part of the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project.
History
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