Floreana giant tortoise reintroduced to Galápagos island after almost 200 years

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Patrick BarkhamFebruary 20, 2026 at 10:00 PM

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After nearly 200 years, the Floreana giant tortoise, driven to extinction in the 1840s, has been reintroduced to Floreana Island in the Galápagos. In 2008, a relic population with Floreana ancestry was discovered on Isabela Island's Wolf volcano, leading to a captive breeding program in 2017. The program selected hybrid tortoises most closely related to the Floreana subspecies to recreate a genetically similar population. As of 2025, over 600 hatchlings were born, and 158 juvenile tortoises have been released on Floreana as part of the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project. This reintroduction aims to restore the island's ecosystem, which was damaged by invasive species following the arrival of sailors and settlers.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Pacific Ocean 30% Charles Darwin 40% Galápagos National Park Directorate 40% Isabela Island ×250% Wolf Volcano ×260% Whalers ×370% Floreana Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger niger) ×470% Galápagos Islands ×280% Floreana Island ×1090%

Keywords

giant tortoise 100% galápagos islands 90% floreana island 80% reintroduction 70% ecological restoration 70% invasive species 60% back breeding program 50% extinction 50% wildlife conservation 40%