Officials in Ecuador said on May 25 genetic tests had confirmed that a turtle found in 2019 on the Galapagos island of Fernandina is a member a species thought to have gone extinct a century ago. “It was believed to have gone extinct more than 100 years ago!” Environment Minister Gustavo Marique said in a statement.
“Extinct” for 112 Years: Galapagos Giant Tortoise Rediscovery Confirmed
Share Article
A lone female Giant Tortoise was found on Fernandina Island in the Galapagos Islands in 2019 during a joint expedition of the Galapagos National Park Directorate and Galapagos Conservancy. Genetic testing conducted by researchers at Yale University has now confirmed this tortoise is the Fernandina Giant Tortoise, which was believed to be extinct since 1906. Galapagos Conservancy and the Galapagos National Park Directorate will urgently launch expeditions to find a mate for the female tortoise and save the species.
“Fern,” the female tortoise found on Fernandina Island in 2019.
To avoid the same tragic fate as Lonesome George – the last Pinta Giant Tortoise who died in 2012 – an urgent expedition to Fernandina Island will be launched by GNPD and Galapagos Conservancy to find a mate and save the species.
World News Quick Take
Rare tortoise not extinct
Genetic tests had confirmed that a turtle found in 2019 on the Galapagos island of Fernandina is a member a species thought to have gone extinct a century ago, officials said on Tuesday. “It was believed to have gone extinct more than 100 years ago,” Minister of Environment Gustavo Marique said in a statement. “We have reconfirmed its existence. The tortoise of the species Chelonoidis phantasticus was found in #Galapagos.” Geneticists from the US’ Yale University compared DNA from the female turtle found two years ago with a sample extracted from a male of the species in 1906. The specimen, which is kept in a museum, had been collected during an expedition by the California Academy of Sciences. The Chelonoidis phantasticus, typical of Fernandina Island, is one of the 15 species of giant tortoises native to the Galapagos archipelago. The Chelonoidis species of Santa Fe Island and the Abingdonii species of Pinta island have di