Taking tortoises back to their Floreana Island ancestral home in the Galapagos

ALFREDO AZCARATE VARELA
THE BAJA POST/EDITOR
SOURCE: Prnmedia.prnewswire.com/national-geographic-lindblad-expeditions-travelers

Tortoises had become locally extinct on Floreana Island in the Galapagos, and the Floreana Ecological Restoration Project, as of February 20 2026, released 158 giant tortoises back to the island, marking one of the project’s most anticipated milestones, somehow giving their home back to this species, that now roam the original and natural habitat where their ancestors vanished more than a century ago.

Taking the tortoises back to their home in the Galapagos has shown National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ enduring commitment to the stewardship of the Galápagos Islands

It was a powerful display of commitment to ecosystem recovery, by a project that has been supported for more than a decade by traveler donations to the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund, the longest-running and largest travel brand associated with the project. which now can brag of having achieved a huge success regarding the recovery of a species that had been absent from the island for almost 2 centuries.

«The release of these giant tortoises is momentous for Floreana Island and the Galápagos,» said Ian Miller, Chief Science Officer, National Geographic Society. «It represents not only the successful restoration efforts of this important ecosystem, which the tortoises will build upon as essential ecosystem engineers”.

This is a testament to the coordinated and dedicated work of scientists, conservation organizations, local community members, and government agencies to achieve transformational conservation results. We are proud to support these efforts through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund and look forward to their continued success.»

This release is part of a carefully staged, science-driven plan extending through 2030, with each species introduction guided by rigorous habitat studies, adaptive management, and community participation

«The return of giant tortoises to Floreana Island is an extraordinary milestone for the Galápagos and a powerful example of what expedition travel can and should support,» said Amy Berquist, Vice President, Conservation, Education & Sustainability at Lindblad Expeditions.

«This achievement reflects years of science, leadership from local stakeholders and governmental bodies, and community collaboration. The success on Floreana is a reminder that when travel is rooted in respect, education, and collaboration, it can help protect the very wonders that draw us there in the first place.»