02/21/2026, 09:5102/21/2026, 09:51
Scientists have reintroduced around 150 giant tortoises to Floreana Island in the Galapagos Archipelago. They disappeared there over a century ago, the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment announced on Friday.
The released turtles come from a breeding center in the Galapagos National Park, where a special program for turtles has been developed.Image: keystone
After arriving on the island, the scientists and their helpers traveled seven kilometers with the 158 reptiles transported in crates on their backs. They traversed “volcanic terrain and hard-to-reach areas to bring the turtles to their release site and ensure they adapt well to the natural environment,” the ministry said in a statement.
The released turtles come from a breeding center in the Galapagos National Park, where a special program for turtles has been developed. The turtles were found on the island of Isabela but had a genetic profile very similar to that of the endemic species of Floreana, the ministry said.
Unique fauna and flora
Each animal underwent a lengthy quarantine and was microchipped for identification before being brought to Floreana Island.
The Galapagos Archipelago, 1000 km off the coast of Ecuador, has fauna and flora that is unique in the world. Its delicate ecosystem is part of humanity’s world heritage and served as a research area for the British naturalist Charles Darwin, who developed his theory of evolution in the 19th century.
“For the first time in over a century, Floreana is home to giant tortoises, a species that plays a strategic role as ecosystem engineers: they spread seeds, regulate vegetation and promote the regeneration of the natural habitat,” the ministry said. (sda/afp)