Giant Tortoise Returns to Galápagos Islands After Nearly 150 Years

Release of a giant Galapagos tortoise. (Carlos Espinosa/Charles Darwin Foundation)

JAKARTA - After nearly 150 years ago the last giant tortoise was moved from Floreana Island in Ecuador's Galápagos archipelago, the species returned last month, when dozens of young hybrids were released to begin the recovery of the island's depleted ecosystem.

The 158 newcomers, aged 8 to 13, have begun exploring the habitat they will redesign over the next few years. Their release coincides with the arrival of the first winter rains.

"They are big enough to be released and can defend themselves against invasive animals such as rats and cats," said Fredy Villalba, director of the Galápagos National Park Breeding Center on Santa Cruz Island, noting that the best specimens with the strongest lineage were chosen specifically for Floreana, as reported by CNN from the Associated Press (5/3).

The young specimens that were released, out of a total of 700 planned for Floreana, will be introduced gradually.

Director of the Galapagos National Park Ecosystem Christian Sevilla explained that they carried between 40 percent and 80 percent of the genetic makeup of Chelonoidis niger - a species that has been extinct for 150 years.

The hybrid lineage can be traced back to Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, a discovery that still puzzles scientists to this day.

Release of a giant Galapagos tortoise. (Carlos Espinosa/Charles Darwin Foundation)

By selecting the adult individuals with the strongest genetic makeup, said Sevilla, the breeding program aims to gradually restore the extinct Floreana species to its original purity.

Two centuries ago, Floreana was home to around 20,000 giant tortoises. However, whaling, devastating fires, and relentless human exploitation eventually led to their total extinction on the island.

"In terms of genetics, reintroducing the species to the island with a significant genetic component of the original species is very important," biologist Washington Tapia told the Associated Press.

Tapia, a researcher and director of Biodiversa-Consultores - a company specializing in the Galápagos Islands - stressed that this process is not just about numbers, but about restoring lost lineages.

Floreana, an island about 173 square kilometers (67 square miles) in size, is a volcanic landmass and the southernmost point of the Galápagos archipelago.

Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean - about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from the main mainland coast - the island remains a remote and vital ecological site.

The turtles reintroduced to Floreana will share their territory with a diverse population of nearly 200 people along with flamingos, iguanas, penguins, gulls, and eagles. However, they also have to deal with invasive plant species such as blackberries and guava, as well as animals such as rats, cats, pigs, and donkeys.

These non-native species, introduced by human activity, are a potential threat to the island's new inhabitants.

It is known that the United Nations designated the Galápagos Islands as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1978. This award recognizes the unique abundance of terrestrial and marine species on the islands that are not found anywhere else on the planet.