Environment News

Galapagos Giant Tortoise

February 26 , 2026 17 hrs 0 min 63 0

The Galapagos National Park released 158 hybrid giant tortoises on Floreana Island to restore the ecosystem.
The tortoises carry 40–80% DNA of Chelonoidis niger, a species declared extinct in the 19th century.
The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 kilometre west of Ecuador, and were formed by volcanic activity.
The islands inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Giant tortoises are called ecological engineers because they spread seeds, control vegetation, and create habitats for other species.
The genus Chelonoidis is generally listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered by the IUCN.