Floreana Island

Floreana Island is a volcanic island in the Galápagos archipelago. It is newsworthy due to the recent reintroduction of giant tortoises after nearly two centuries of absence. The Floreana giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger niger), a subspecies native to the island, was driven to extinction in the 1840s primarily by whalers who harvested them for food. The current reintroduction effort, part of the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project led by the Galápagos National Park Directorate, involves releasing captive-bred juvenile tortoises onto the island. Over 150 tortoises have been released. This event is a significant milestone in restoring the island's ecosystem, as giant tortoises play a crucial role as ecosystem engineers. Their return is expected to have a positive impact on the island's biodiversity and ecological health.