After an absence of more than 180 years, giant tortoises have made a triumphant return to Floreana Island in the Galápagos archipelago of Ecuador. In a remarkable conservation effort, 158 juvenile hybrids were recently released onto the island, which was once home to approximately 20,000 giant tortoises. The reintroduction program, known as “back breeding,” commenced in 2017 to revive the species that had been driven to extinction in the 1840s due to various threats such as whalers, a devastating fire, and human exploitation.
The release of the young tortoises was a momentous occasion for conservation biologist James Gibbs, who likened it to witnessing his children take their first steps. Gibbs, who serves as the vice-president of science and conservation at the Galápagos Conservancy, expressed his joy at observing the eager and energetic tortoises exploring their new environment upon their release.
These juvenile tortoises, expected to reach weights of up to 600 pounds over the next couple of decades, are part of a larger plan to gradually introduce 700 tortoises to Floreana Island. With genetic contributions ranging from 40% to 80% of the extinct Floreana species, these tortoises play a crucial role in restoring the island’s ecosystem.
Biologist Washington Tapia emphasized the significance of reintroducing a species with a substantial genetic link to the original inhabitants of the island. Tapia, who heads Biodiversa-Consultores, stressed that the initiative goes beyond merely increasing numbers and aims to reconstruct a lineage that was lost over time.
The hope is that these new residents, aged between eight and 13 years and weighing 30 to 50 pounds, will help rejuvenate the island’s ecosystem, given their potential lifespan of over a century. The release process was a laborious yet heartfelt endeavor, with park rangers carrying the tortoises uphill to their release sites, where they were set free to roam in their natural habitat.
The tortoises now coexist with a diverse array of wildlife on Floreana Island, including human inhabitants and various species like flamingos, iguanas, penguins, gulls, and hawks. However, they must also navigate challenges posed by non-native species introduced by humans, such as rats, cats, pigs, and donkeys, as well as invasive plants like blackberries and guavas.
To monitor the tortoises’ movements and ensure their well-being, each one has been equipped with a GPS tracker. This technology allows researchers to track the tortoises’ activities in real-time, ensuring that they adapt and settle into their new or, more accurately, their old home on Floreana Island.
