Giant tortoise found in Galápagos is from a species considered extinct a century ago

ECUADOR-GALAPAGOS-TORTOISE-DISCOVERY
Galapagos tortoise Chelonoidis phantasticus
AFP/Getty Images

A giant tortoise found on the Galapagos Islands is from a species last seen in 1906, scientists have confirmed.

The female Chelonoidis phantasticus, also known as a Fernandina, was discovered back in 2019 during an expedition to Fernandina Island.

But in order to come to the conclusion that it was indeed the ancient species, scientists took samples from the female to compare to the remains of a male Chelonoidis phantasticus found in the 1900s.

It was from those samples that geneticists from Yale University determined that the female was a member of the species that was previously thought to be the extinct , the Galapagos Conservancy said on their website.

The Galapagos National Park is preparing an expedition to search for more of the giant tortoises in an attempt to save the species.

Scientists have found prints and faeces on Fernandina Island which they believe indicates that there are more left in the wild, reported the BBC.

Ecuador’s Environment Minister, Gustavo Manrique, also confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: “Hope is alive.”

The female giant tortoise, which is estimated to be more than 100 years old, is currently in a breeding centre on Santa Cruz Island.

“One of the greatest mysteries in Galapagos has been the Fernandina Island Giant Tortoise. Rediscovering this lost species may have occurred just in the nick of time to save it,” said Dr. James Gibbs, Vice President of Science and Conservation for the Galapagos Conservancy.

“We now urgently need to complete the search of the island to find other tortoises.”

Danny Rueda Córdova, Director of the Galapagos National Park Directorate, said: “My team from the Park and Galapagos Conservancy are planning a series of major expeditions to return to Fernandina Island to search for additional tortoises beginning this September.”

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