FLOREANA ISLAND, Ecuador (AP) 鈥� Nearly 150 years after the last giant tortoises were removed from Floreana Island in , the species made a comeback Friday, when dozens of juvenile hybrids were released to begin restoring the island鈥檚 depleted ecosystem.
The 158 newcomers, aged 8 to 13, have begun exploring the habitat they are destined to reshape over the coming years. Their release was perfectly timed with the arrival of the season鈥檚 first winter rains.
鈥淭hey are large enough to be released and can defend themselves against introduced animals such as rats and cats,鈥� said Fredy Villalba, director of the Gal谩pagos National Park breeding center on Santa Cruz Island, noting that the best specimens with the strongest lineage were selected specifically for Floreana.
These released juvenile specimens, out of a total of 700 planned for Floreana, will be introduced gradually. According to Christian Sevilla, director of ecosystems of the Galapagos National Park, they carry between 40% and 80% of the genetic makeup of the Chelonoidis niger 鈥攁 species that has been extinct for 150 years.
The lineage of these hybrids traces back to Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, a discovery that still puzzles scientists today. By selecting adults with the strongest genetic makeup, said Sevilla, the breeding program aims to gradually bring the extinct Floreana species back to its former purity.
Two centuries ago, Floreana was home to approximately 20,000 giant tortoises. However, whaling, a devastating fire, and relentless human exploitation eventually led to their complete extinction on the island.
鈥淚n genetic terms, reintroducing a species to that island with a significant genetic component of the original species is vital,鈥� biologist Washington Tapia told The Associated Press.
Tapia, a researcher and director of Biodiversa-Consultores 鈥� a firm specializing in the Gal谩pagos Islands 鈥� emphasized that this process is about more than just numbers; it is about restoring a lost lineage.
Floreana, an island spanning approximately 173 square kilometers (67 square miles), is a volcanic landmass and the southernmost point of the Gal谩pagos archipelago. Situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean 鈥� roughly 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from the mainland coast 鈥� it remains a remote and vital ecological site.
The tortoises reintroduced to Floreana will share their territory with a diverse population of nearly 200 people alongside flamingos, iguanas, penguins, sea gulls and hawks. However, they must also contend with introduced plant species such as blackberry and guava, as well as animals like rats, cats, pigs and donkeys. These non-native species, introduced by human activity, represent potential threats to the island鈥檚 newest inhabitants.
Floreana resident Ver贸nica Mora described the release of the turtles as a dream come true. 鈥淲e are seeing the reality of a project that began several years ago,鈥� she said, adding that the community feels immense pride in the return of the giant tortoises.
The United Nations designated the Gal谩pagos Islands as a Natural World Heritage Site in 1978. This honor recognizes the islands鈥� unique abundance of terrestrial and marine species found nowhere else on the planet.
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Associated Press Gonzalo Solano contributed from Quito, Ecuador.
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