‘Extinct’ giant tortoise found alive on Galapagos Islands

Photo Credit: Marcelo Mata/
@Marcelo_MataG/Twitter/CEN
Photo Credit: Marcelo Mata/ @Marcelo_MataG/Twitter/CEN

A Fernandina Giant Tortoise – previously believed to be extinct – has been found by members of the Galapagos National Park and the US NGO Galapagos Conservancy.

A species of giant tortoise believed to have gone extinct more than 100 years ago has been spotted in the Galapagos Islands. 

Ecuador’s environment minister Marcelo Mata made the announcement that an adult female Fernandina Giant Tortoise had been discovered, although no other details have been revealed yet.  

Many species of giant tortoises were over-hunted for their meat by European and other colonists who travelled to the Galapagos archipelago.  

The Fernandina Giant Tortoise is reportedly one of 15 giant tortoise species in the Galapagos.

There has only ever been one previous confirmed sighting of the species, with a single specimen found in 1906.

The one spotted recently has a smooth shell and pink snout.

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