Galapagos. They discover a giant tortoise considered extinct 100 years ago

QUITO (Reuters) .-

Ecuador

discovered a giant turtle that we thought was extinct 100 years ago in paradise

Galapagos Islands,

A discovery that paves the way for recovery of the species with a captive breeding plan, announced today the Ministry of the Environment.

The species Chelonoidis phantasticus of Fernandina Island, known as the "giant Fernandina turtle", was found Sunday in the vegetation during a joint expedition of the Galapagos National Park and the island. 39; organization
Galapagos Conservancy.

"This encourages us to strengthen our research plans to find other turtles, which will allow us to launch a captive breeding program to recover this species," said the director of the Galapagos National Park. , Danny Rueda, in a statement from the Ministry of the Environment.

The turtle found is an adult female over 100 years old who has been transferred to a breeding center for surveillance.

In the Galapagos Islands, which served as the basis for the theory of the evolution of the species of the British scientist Charles Darwin in the nineteenth century, lives a variety of turtles with flamingos, pikemen, albatrosses and cormorants. It is also home to a large amount of flora and fauna in danger of extinction.

Authorities believe that it is possible to have more copies of this type at Fernandina because they "found traces and feces in other parts of the island." , separated by lava flows from recent eruptions, "the statement added.

They will also conduct genetic studies to reconfirm that the turtle found belongs to the Fernandina species.

The last living specimen of the turtle was sighted in 1906 and is one of dozens of species that populate the Galapagos. One of the reptiles of this species was the turtle known as "Solitaire George", who died in 2012 without leaving any offspring.