Nearly 150 years after giant tortoises disappeared from Floreana Island in Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago, conservationists have returned the species to the island.
Ecuadorian authorities released 158 juvenile tortoises this week, each aged between 8 and 13. This release is the first phase of a larger plan to reintroduce about 700 animals to Floreana over time.
The environment ministry said the move restores a key ecosystem engineer to the island — a species important for dispersing seeds, regulating vegetation and promoting natural habitat recovery. (Image: Juvenile giant tortoises begin exploring the habitat they are destined to reshape; Dolores Ochoa/AP Photo/picture alliance.)
The released tortoises carry between 40% and 80% of the genetic makeup of Chelonoidis niger, the tortoise that vanished from Floreana in the 19th century after pressure from invasive mammals, whaling, fires and exploitation. The juveniles were bred at a Galapagos National Park facility using stock with close genetic ties to Floreana’s original lineage, with officials hoping the long-term program will gradually restore the island’s original species profile. (Image: A tortoise after release by park rangers; Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment/AFP.)
There are 13 living species of Galapagos tortoises on other islands, according to National Geographic. Adults can exceed 250 kilograms (550 pounds), and the oldest known individual lived to about 175 years.
Authorities said the release timing is favorable, with seasonal rains helping the tortoises adapt. The animals will coexist with Floreana’s small human community and local wildlife but will still face threats from invasive species, which remain a major conservation challenge.
Local resident Veronica Mora described the return as deeply meaningful, calling it the fulfillment of a project years in the making and a source of community pride.
Researchers are also working to reintroduce 12 other endemic species to Floreana as part of a broader rewilding initiative. The Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lie roughly 1,000 kilometers off Ecuador’s coast and are famed for their unique biodiversity.
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez