Nearly 150 years after giant tortoises disappeared from Floreana Island, conservation authorities in Ecuador have begun returning the species to the island. This week the environment ministry released 158 juvenile tortoises, each between 8 and 13 years old, in the first phase of a long-term plan to reintroduce roughly 700 animals over time.
Officials say the release restores an important ecosystem engineer to Floreana: giant tortoises help disperse seeds, shape vegetation patterns and promote natural habitat recovery. The juveniles were bred at a Galapagos National Park facility using breeding stock with close genetic ties to Floreana’s original population; each released animal carries between 40% and 80% of the genetic makeup of Chelonoidis niger, the tortoise that vanished from the island in the 19th century after pressures from invasive mammals, whaling, fires and exploitation.
Park rangers and scientists are hoping the program will gradually rebuild the island’s original species profile. Timing the release with seasonal rains should help the young tortoises adapt, authorities said. The animals will share the island with Floreana’s small human community and local wildlife, but invasive species remain a major conservation threat.
There are 13 living species of Galapagos tortoises on other islands. Adults can exceed 250 kilograms (about 550 pounds), and the oldest known individual lived to around 175 years. Local resident Veronica Mora described the return as deeply meaningful, calling it the culmination of years of work and a source of community pride.
Researchers are also planning to reintroduce a further 12 endemic species to Floreana as part of a broader rewilding initiative. The Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for their unique biodiversity, lie roughly 1,000 kilometers off Ecuador’s coast.
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez