According to the Galapagos National Park, at least 170 captive-bred giant tortoises were released onto an island in the Galapagos archipelago in Ecuador last month.
The Chelonoidis vicina tortoises were bred and raised in a breeding center located on Isabela Island, the largest island in the archipelago. They were released to help integrate them into the ecosystem in the southern region of the territory. These tortoises, aged between four and five years, were required to reach a weight of 2kg and a size of 30cm before their release, and they underwent quarantine and veterinary assessments.
The Galapagos National Park announced in a statement that it will persist in releasing tortoises from breeding centers into natural areas of the archipelago to bolster endangered populations. Thanks to these initiatives, thousands of giant tortoises have successfully returned to their natural habitats.
