Floreana Island

Floreana Island is a volcanic island in the Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador. Historically, it was home to the Floreana giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger niger), a subspecies driven to extinction in the 1840s primarily by whalers. The island is newsworthy due to the recent reintroduction of giant tortoises after nearly two centuries. Conservationists have released 158 captive-bred juvenile tortoises as part of the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project, led by the Galápagos National Park Directorate. This reintroduction aims to restore the island's ecosystem, as giant tortoises are considered 'life-giving engineers' that play a crucial role in shaping island environments. The return of these tortoises marks a significant milestone in conservation efforts and highlights the ongoing commitment to preserving the unique biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands.