Tortoises Return

NASA is helping to bring giant tortoises back to the Galápagos Islands. The effort, a collaboration between the Galápagos National Park Directorate and Galápagos Conservancy, aims to restore tortoise populations to one of the most ecologically distinctive archipelagos on Earth.

On February 20, 158 giant tortoises were released on Floreana Island, where they had disappeared in the mid-1800s due to heavy hunting and the introduction of new predators. NASA satellite data is being used to map environmental conditions and track how vegetation, moisture, and temperature shift over time, helping scientists to identify the best locations for the tortoises to survive.

The release is part of the larger Floreana Ecological Restoration Project, which aims to remove invasive species and return 12 native animal species to the island, with tortoises serving as the keystone for rebuilding the ecosystem.