Captive Galapagos Tortoises Give Hope for “Extinct” Species
The following was reported on Kelowna.com:
New genetic research has identified nine captive giant tortoises as descendants of an “extinct” species formerly endemic to Floreana Island in the Pacific’s Galápagos Islands.
“Based upon our findings, we now have an opportunity to breed the species and maintain the integrity of this distinct lineage,” says Michael Russello, a conservation geneticist at UBC Okanagan.
The species known as Chelonoidis elephantopus went extinct on Floreana Island in the 20th century due to human activities. The ultimate goal is to eventually repatriate the lost tortoise species on Floreana so the island can one day support a self-sustaining breeding population of the endemic giant tortoise.