Originally published on CNN
Fifteen recently released Española tortoises are settling back in their natural habitat after they spent decades in a breeding program to save their species from extinction.
Española is one of the islands in the Galapagos chain. In mid-June, the Galapagos National Park Directorate returned 15 of them to their island of origin. The 12 females and 3 males had spent decades in a breeding program to save their species from extinction. Conservationists are now monitoring their movements on the island and will periodically check how they adjust.
Danny Rueda Cordova, Director of the Galapagos National Park, stated “All of the tortoises have a satellite tracking system, which allows us to remotely monitor them during their adaptation period, which will be for approximately 6 months.”
Española tortoises went nearly extinct on the island in the 1800s. Since its start a half-century ago, the program has led to the reintroduction of nearly 1,900 offspring to the island.
“Without a doubt, this is a successful program, since we were able to restore this population that was almost at the brink of extinction,” said Danny Rueda Cordova.
The 15 tortoises joined thousands of their offspring that now reproduced naturally on the island.
