For the first time in more than 180 years, giant tortoises are roaming the island of Floreana in the Galápagos archipelago — and conservationists are calling it one of the most significant ecological milestones in modern conservation history. Watch the video below to see watch their return in video or read on to learn more about it.
On February 20, 2026, 158 captive-bred giant tortoises were released at two sites on Floreana as part of a sweeping rehabilitation project led by Ecuador's Galápagos National Park Directorate. The release ceremony was attended by government officials, NGOs, and the island's local community, marking the culmination of decades of genetic research, habitat restoration, and international collaboration. The subspecies — Chelonoidis niger niger — had been wiped out on the island by the mid-1800s, after whalers hunted thousands of tortoises for food during long sea voyages, and the introduction of invasive species such as rats, pigs, goats, and feral cats further devastated the ecosystem. Two centuries ago, Floreana was home to an estimated 20,000 giant tortoises. Today, 54 species are considered threatened on the island, and at least 13 endemic species have already been locally lost.
The 158 tortoises released this week are between 8 and 13 years old — large enough, scientists say, to defend themselves against predators still present on the island. They represent the first wave of a planned total of 700 animals to be gradually reintroduced. "They are large enough to be released and can defend themselves against introduced animals such as rats and cats," said Fredy Villalba, director of the Galápagos National Park breeding center on Santa Cruz Island. ABC News
The path to their return began with a remarkable discovery. In 2000, Dr. James Gibbs of the Galápagos Conservancy was conducting a survey of giant tortoise populations when he encountered something puzzling at Wolf Volcano on neighboring Isabela Island — tortoises with saddleback shells that didn't match any known living species on that island. Historical records suggest that sailors once moved tortoises between islands, leaving some behind. Galápagos Conservancy Subsequent DNA testing confirmed what scientists had barely dared to hope: these animals were hybrids carrying significant Floreana ancestry, meaning the subspecies had not entirely vanished.
The tortoises carry between 40% and 80% of the genetic makeup of the extinct Floreana species. ABC News Researchers selected 23 hybrid individuals with the closest genetic links to the original subspecies and began a carefully managed breeding program at the Santa Cruz Island facility. By 2025, more than 600 hatchlings had been produced. The goal, as Dr. Gibbs explained, was never to perfectly resurrect the past — but to produce tortoises capable of once again performing the ecological role their ancestors had carried out on Floreana.
NASA Joins the Mission
One of the more surprising contributors to the project is NASA. Because tortoises released from captivity have no instinct for where to find food, water, or nesting ground on an unfamiliar island, researchers built a decision tool using data from multiple NASA satellite missions — including Landsat and the Global Precipitation Measurement mission — to map vegetation, rainfall, temperature, and terrain across Floreana. That data was combined with millions of field observations of tortoise locations across the archipelago to produce habitat suitability maps, not just for today, but forecasted up to 40 years into the future. Newsweek The long-range modeling matters because giant tortoises can live over a century, meaning the island's future climate trajectory is just as important as its present conditions.
Ecosystem Engineers
Conservationists describe giant tortoises as "ecosystem engineers" — and the term is not an exaggeration. For centuries, these animals grazed vegetation, cleared pathways through dense plant growth, and dispersed seeds across the island. Their disappearance triggered an ecological collapse that reshaped the landscape over generations. Newsweek Their return is therefore not merely symbolic — it is structural. The tortoise reintroduction is designed to serve as the keystone around which Floreana's broader ecosystem can be rebuilt.
The results of years of preparatory habitat work are already visible. Endemic bird populations, such as the small ground finch, are healthier, with more individuals. The island has also seen the rediscovery of the Pachay bird, unseen since Darwin's visit in 1835, and the recovery of native snails not seen alive for over a century. Discover Wildlife
A Blueprint for the World
The tortoise release is just the first chapter of a much larger story. It is the first of 12 locally extinct species planned for reintroduction on Floreana as part of the island's ecological restoration project. Dr. Jen Jones, chief executive of the Galápagos Conservation Trust, described the moment as "truly spine-tingling," adding that it had validated two decades of collaboration between scientists, charities, and the local community. Yahoo!
For Floreana's approximately 160 residents, the moment carried deep personal meaning. Local resident Verónica Mora called it a dream come true: "We are seeing the reality of a project that began several years ago," she said, adding that the entire community feels immense pride in the tortoises' return.
If the project succeeds, the model developed on Floreana — combining genetic recovery, invasive species control, habitat mapping, and community involvement — could serve as a replicable blueprint for island restoration efforts far beyond the Galápagos. The Galápagos National Park Directorate has released more than 10,000 tortoises across the archipelago over the past 60 years, making it one of the largest rewilding efforts ever attempted. Newsweek Floreana, it seems, may be its finest chapter yet.
