Overview
- Ecuador’s environment ministry and the Galápagos National Park released 158 juveniles on Feb. 20 after quarantine and microchipping, carrying them about 7 kilometers over volcanic terrain to designated sites.
- The tortoises, aged 8–13, were bred at the Fausto Llerena center from Wolf Volcano animals and carry an estimated 40%–80% of the extinct Floreana lineage, officials said.
- This is the first cohort of a planned ~700 tortoises under the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project, which includes long‑term monitoring and invasive‑species control through 2030.
- Authorities describe the species as keystone ecosystem engineers expected to help restore seed dispersal, vegetation structure and natural habitat regeneration.
- Release planning relies on habitat studies and adaptive management, with some reports citing NASA satellite data to inform site selection and long‑term suitability modeling.