After being considered extinct for 113 years, a Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise was found in 2019 by a joint expedition led by the Galápagos National Park Directorate and the Galápagos Conservancy. However, this female, named Fernanda, is the only confirmed living Ferdinandina Island Galapagos tortoise alive, and thus, the last of its species.
Thought extinct in the shadow of a tragic loss in 1906, when a male Fernandina tortoise met an untimely end, a glimmer of hope emerged in 2019. Led by Washington Tapia-Aguilera, a dedicated team embarked on an expedition that located an elderly female, possibly the last of her kind. This living relic was carefully captured and relocated to a breeding center on Santa Cruz Island, where genetic tests conducted by Yale University confirmed the female's identity as a member of the Chelonoidis niger phantasticus subspecies.
In early 2022, a further expedition scoured Fernandina Island looking for any potential surviving members of this subspecies. While the initial search came up empty, as the saga unfolds, a strong conservation community remains committed to continuing the search and preserving the unique biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands.
Species survival is crucial for maintaining the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystems. Each species plays a unique role, and their loss can have cascading effects. Locally, you can make a difference by donating your time to conservation efforts or contributing funds to support wildlife protection initiatives. Every act, big or small, counts in safeguarding the diversity that makes our world thrive.
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