Ecuador has confirmed that a giant tortoise found in 2019 in the Galápagos Islands is a species considered extinct a century ago. The Galápagos national park is preparing an expedition to search for more of the giant tortoises in an attempt to save the species. The turtle was found two years ago on Fernandina Island, one of the youngest and most pristine in the archipelago, during a joint expedition between the Galápagos national park and the Galápagos Conservancy. Scientists from Yale University then identified it as the Chelonoidis phantasticus species, which had been considered extinct more than a century ago. The current population of giant tortoises from various species is estimated at 60,000, according to data from the Galápagos national park.

Source: The Guardian May 26, 2021 17:40 UTC