A little over a week ago, on Friday, Feb. 25, 158 giant tortoises were released into the wild of Floreana, one of the islands in the Galapagos archipelago. These tortoises are a part of a species that was once extinct. Chelonoidis niger niger, or the Floreana giant tortoise, was declared extinct after sailors took the creatures off the island to have sustenance on long trips. No one thought the animal would ever be seen again, until 2017, when scientists discovered tortoises on the neighboring island of Isabela, carrying the genetic code of the long-dead subspecies. This started the “back-breeding” program, where several tortoises carrying the genome were selected and bred in captivity to revive the species. These animals, 23 in total, were selected because they shared most genetic links with the extinct species and were bred to amplify these links in order to bring the Floreana giant tortoise back. In 2025, 600 hatchlings were born in captivity, with now several hundred being released onto the island. The Galapagos Conservation Trust, or GCT, described the event: “The restoration of Floreana island has reached a hugely significant milestone, with 158 captive-bred giant tortoises released in the wild this week.” Dr. Jen Jones of the GCT described the event as “truly spine-tingling,” as well as validating the past two decades of work between scientists, charities and the local community.