The Floreana giant tortoise, extinct for over 180 years, has been successfully brought back to its native habitat in the Galápagos Islands through a groundbreaking breeding program.
The Floreana giant tortoise subspecies, once driven to extinction by whalers who hunted them for food, has been successfully reintroduced to Floreana Island, marking a significant achievement in conservation efforts. This reintroduction celebrates the largest restoration project in the Pacific Ocean, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration and scientific research.
For the first time since the 1840s, giant tortoises are once again roaming the volcanic landscape of Floreana Island. The Floreana giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger niger) has returned thanks to years of work by scientists who aimed to genetically restore the species. A total of 158 young, genetically intact tortoises have begun their new lives in the wild, symbolizing a noteworthy success in the preservation of biodiversity in the archipelago.
The story of the Floreana tortoise is one of loss but also of hope. In the 19th century, whalers decimated the tortoise population on the island, using them as a source of fresh food on long voyages. Charles Darwin witnessed the tail end of this decline during his visit to the island in 1835. However, the reintroduction effort, which took a surprising turn when researchers discovered genetically related tortoises on Isabela Island in 2008, brings renewed possibilities for the survival and recovery of this unique species, demonstrating the resilience of nature and the impact of dedicated conservation work.
