09 January 2012

GALAPAGOS CONSERVANCY
WASHINGTON, DC

Through a combination of cutting edge genetic research and time-tested field work, scientists have determined that a Galapagos Giant Tortoise species long thought to be extinct in the wild may still be living on the northern end of the island of Isabela, a few hundred kilometers from Floreana, their island of origin.

This week a team of scientists from a number of institutions led by researchers in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at Yale University are reporting new evidence that pure Floreana tortoises (Chelonoidis elephantopus) may still exist on Wolf Volcano on the north end of the island of Isabela.

G. Becky tortoises (top photo) are native to Isabela Island in the Galapagos chain and have a distinctly domed shape shell, while the tortoise in the bottom photo is a hybrid with C. elephantopus, a species native to Floreana Island some 200 miles south of Wolf Volcano on northern Isabela. Until recently, C. elephantopus was thought to be extinct. Genetic analysis of a tortoise population on Isabela Island suggests purebred individuals of C. elephantopus must still be alive on Isabela.

These results, funded in part by Galapagos Conservancy, provide great hope for recovery of this species, thought to be extinct for nearly 150 years. Having previously found a small number of hybrid tortoises on Wolf Volcano, scientists returned in December 2008 to obtain blood samples from a total of 1669 individuals, approximately 20% of the estimated current tortoise population.

Results reported this week indicate that 84 tortoises were found whose DNA show that they resulted from hybridization events involving a pure Floreana tortoise as one of their immediate parents. Thirty of the 84 tortoises were determined to be less than 15 years old – indicating that the likelihood of pure Floreana tortoises still roaming the slopes of Wolf Volcano is quite high. Historical records indicate that tortoises were often moved between islands by whalers and other visitors to Galapagos in the 18th and 19th centuries, and many ended up on Wolf Volcano. These historical records provide an explanation for the unusually wide range of tortoise types found there — a population mix that would not be expected to occur naturally.

“Galapagos tortoise populations have benefited from a long and successful history of captive breeding and repatriation,” reports Galapagos Conservancy’s Science Advisor Dr. Linda Cayot, whose work as head of herpetology at the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos spanned more than a decade. “With these data in hand, the Galapagos National Park will be able to embark on a rescue mission for the Floreana Giant Tortoise species. We are extremely grateful to all the institutions who have worked together to bring us to this exciting moment.”

These findings come just as the Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Foundation, and others are in the initial years of Project Floreana – aimed at restoring that island to a more pristine condition and ensuring a sustainable community for its human inhabitants. Says Dr. Cayot, “Returning true Floreana tortoises as part of that effort is now a dream that could come true.”

If interested, check out this additional information on tortoise repatriation and Project Floreana:

Brief History of Tortoise Repatriation in Galapagos
Project Floreana: A Plan for Island Restoration in Galapagos

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Galapagos Conservancy connects people across the globe to conservation efforts taking place in the Galapagos Islands. GC is the only US-based non-profit dedicated solely to the conservation of Galapagos wildlife and landscapes, and is the world’s largest single source of funds for Galapagos conservation.

Contact Information:

For information related to this release and other Galapagos science programs:
Dr. Linda Cayot, Science Advisor, Galapagos Conservancy.
Ph: 530-283-2904 or lcayot@galapagos.org

For supporting materials and background information:
Lori Ulrich, Director of Marketing, Galapagos Conservancy
Ph: 703-383-0077, Fax: 703-383-1177 or lulrich@galapagos.org

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