Quick Facts on this new Galapagos Giant Tortoise Story:
• An adult female Fernandina Giant Tortoise has been discovered in the GalapagosOne of the endemic Giant Tortoise species of the Ecuadorian archipelago of Galápagos, considered extinct a century ago, was found on an expedition on Fernandina Island, Environment Minister Marcelo Mata announced on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. "The expedition, led by the Galapagos National Park and the Galapagos Conservancy, located a specimen (adult female) of the tortoise species Chelonoidis Phantasticus, which was believed to have been extinct for more than 100 years," said the official. Many species of giant tortoises were over-hunted for their meat by European and other colonists who traveled to the Galapagos archipelago.
• An expedition to the island of Fernandina found the animal alive and well
• The female has a large body, smooth shell and a pink head, but no other details have been revealed.
• Only 10 species of Giant Tortoise are thought to have survived human colonization
A tweet from Mr. Mata included an image of the Giant Tortoise & the only known specimen collected since 1906:
NOTICIA MUNDIAL | En la isla Fernandina - #Galápagos, la expedición liderada por @parquegalapagos y @SaveGalapagos, localizaron un espécimen (hembra adulta) de la especie de tortuga Chelonoidis Phantasticus, que se creía extinta hace más de 100 años. pic.twitter.com/51HbqWcwMG
— Marcelo Mata (@Marcelo_MataG) February 19, 2019
The International Union for Conservation of Nature:
'These sightings and signs, though needing verification through more extensive surveys, indicate the possibility that the species may remain extant in exceedingly small numbers,'- IUCN
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