Giant Tortoises Return to Floreana in Galapagos After Nearly Two Centuries

Almost two centuries since they last roamed the land, giant tortoises have made a grand return to their native Galapagos island, Floreana, thanks to a massive ecosystem recovery effort taking place in this unique archipelago.

The original Floreana giant tortoise population was wiped out by the mid-1800s due to intensive whaling activities and the introduction of invasive species. With the tortoise lineage considered extinct for over a century, this event marks a huge achievement in conservation efforts.

However, in 2000, ecologists identified a hybrid tortoise bearing Floreana ancestry on the nearby Isabela island. This significant discovery sparked a long-term selective breeding programme to bring back the Floreana giant tortoise lineage.

This week, the selective breeding program reached a significant milestone as 158 giant tortoises, descendants of the original Floreana giants, were reintroduced to their ancestral home. Floreana has been effectively cleared of invasive species such as goats and rats, making it a safe habitat for these creatures once again.

Rakan Zahawi, the executive director of the Charles Darwin Foundation which has backed the reintroduction, stated that “Giant tortoises are a critical part of this ecosystem.” He further explained, “By dispersing seeds, shaping vegetation, creating microhabitats, and influencing how landscapes regenerate, they help rebuild ecological processes that many other species depend on.”

Image: Galapagos Conservancy