Hailed as a historic achievement, the return of the Floreana giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger niger) returned to its ancestral home on an isolated island in the south of the Galápagos archipelago after nearly two centuries. The “conservation victory” is the first of 12 locally extinct species that are planned to be officially reintroduced as part of the island’s ecological restoration, according to a press release.
The reintroduction of the tortoise, a keystone “ecosystem engineer,” is vital for seed dispersal and habitat regeneration in Galápagos conservation.
“I get goosebumps thinking about it,” Dr. Penny Becker, CEO of Island Conservation, said. “These tortoises aren’t just another species on a list—they’re the architects of this ecosystem. When they start roaming again, grazing and dispersing seeds, they’ll literally reshape the island. Their return is a signal that Floreana’s recovery is real and that years of hard, gritty work are paying off.”
The Floreana giant tortoise was declared extinct in the mid-1800s, wiped out by whalers who used them for food, as well as by invasive species like rats and cats. But genetic testing in the early 2000s revealed that some tortoises on Isabela Island’s Wolf Volcano carried Floreana DNA—likely because whalers had dropped them there for safekeeping or to lighten their ships.
The conservation effort to release 158 giant tortoises on the island of Floreana included:
- Decades of Careful Breeding: Scientists used those surviving descendants to start a careful “back-breeding” program. The 158 juveniles released on Feb. 20 carry between 40 percent and 80 percent of the original extinct species’ genetic makeup and are large enough (aged 8 to 13) to fend off predators.
- A High-Tech NASA Assist: NASA provided satellite data on vegetation, rainfall, and land surface temperature to help conservationists map out the perfect release sites where the tortoises would have immediate access to the best food and water sources.
These new arrivals are said to reshape the island and pave the way for other native flora and fauna to thrive.
“The real challenge has been the decade‑plus of collaborative work leading up to this: tackling invasive species, restoring habitat, building trust with the community, and making sure every decision is grounded in solid science,” Becker said. “It’s slow, careful work, and most of it happens out of sight, and takes time, patience, and a lot of honest conversations. Without those years of collective groundwork, we wouldn’t be here today.”
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