Giant tortoise considered extinct found in Galapagos Islands

The head of Ecuador’s Ministry of the Environment and Water confirmed the discovery of a lone living member of a species of giant tortoise thought to have been driven extinct more than 100 years ago.

Gustavo Manrique wrote on Twitter that “hope is intact” for the species Chelonoidis phantasticus after scientists confirmed that a living female tortoise discovered two years ago was in fact a member of the long-lost species.

¡Se creía extinta hace más de 100 años! Hemos reconfirmado su existencia. La tortuga de la especie Chelonoidis phantasticus fue encontrada en #Galápagos. Empezar con tan buenas noticias nuestra gestión es una linda coincidencia. La esperanza está intacta. #JuntosLoLogramos pic.twitter.com/KOmBMLIfEY

— Gustavo Manrique M. (@GustavoManriq_M) May 25, 2021

The tortoise, more commonly known as the Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise, now lives in a wildlife conservation center as researchers scour the island chain’s third-largest island, Fernandina Island, for a male member of the species to serve as a potential mate. Nicknamed “Fern” by researchers, her discovery was first announced on Twitter by researchers in February of 2019.

NOTICIA MUNDIAL | En la isla Fernandina – #Galápagos, la expedición liderada por @parquegalapagos y @SaveGalapagos, localizaron un espécimen (hembra adulta) de la especie de tortuga Chelonoidis Phantasticus, que se creía extinta hace más de 100 años. pic.twitter.com/51HbqWcwMG

— Marcelo Mata (@Marcelo_MataG) February 19, 2019

The Galapagos National Park said in a statement to CNN that the confirmation of the tortoise’s genetic identity was made by researchers at Yale University.

“Yale University revealed the results of genetic studies and the respective DNA comparison that was made with a specimen extracted in 1906,” a park official said.