About 150 years after the last giant tortoises were removed from Floreana Island in Ecuador’s Galapagos archipelago, the species made a comeback Friday, when dozens of juvenile hybrids were released to begin restoring the island’s depleted ecosystem.
The 158 tortoises, aged 8 to 13, have begun exploring the habitat they are intended to reshape in the coming years. Their release was timed with the arrival of the season’s first winter rains.
“They are large enough to be released and can defend themselves against introduced animals such as rats and cats,” said Fredy Villalba, director of the Galapagos National Park breeding center on Santa Cruz Island, noting that the best specimens with the strongest lineage were selected specifically for release.
Photo: AP
These released juvenile specimens, out of a total of 700 planned for Floreana, are being introduced gradually. According to Christian Sevilla, director of ecosystems of the Galapagos National Park, they carry between 40 percent and 80 percent of the genetic makeup of the Chelonoidis niger — a species that has been extinct for 150 years.
The lineage of these hybrids traces back to Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island — an adjacent island — a discovery that still puzzles scientists today. By selecting adults with the strongest genetic makeup, the breeding program aims to gradually bring the extinct Floreana species back to its former purity, Sevilla said.
Two centuries ago, Floreana was home to approximately 20,000 giant tortoises. However, whaling, a devastating fire and relentless human predation eventually led to their extinction on the island.
“In genetic terms, reintroducing a species to that island with a significant genetic component of the original species is vital,” biologist Washington Tapia said.
Tapia, a researcher and director of Biodiversa-Consultores — a firm specializing in the Galapagos Islands — emphasized that this process is about more than just numbers; it is about restoring a lost lineage.
Floreana, an island spanning approximately 173 square kilometers, is a volcanic landmass and the southernmost point of the Galapagos archipelago. Situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean — roughly 1,000 kilometers from the mainland — it remains a remote and vital ecological site.
The tortoises reintroduced to Floreana are going to share their territory with a diverse population of about 200 people alongside flamingos, iguanas, penguins, seagulls and hawks. They must also contend with introduced plant species such as blackberry and guava, as well as animals such as rats, cats, pigs and donkeys. These non-native species, introduced by human activity, could represent threats to the tortoises.
Floreana resident Veronica Mora described the release of the turtles as a dream come true. “We are seeing the reality of a project that began several years ago,” she said, adding that the community feels immense pride in the return of the giant tortoises.
The UN designated the Galapagos Islands as a Natural World Heritage Site in 1978.
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