A species of giant tortoise believed to have been extinct for more than one hundred years, has been discovered on the Galapagos island of Fernandina, Ecuador .
The last known time a Fernandina Giant Tortoise was seen alive was 1906. An adult female believed to be more than a century old, was seen alive during an expedition by the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative (GTRI).
Washington Tapia, GTRI director and expedition leader, said that genetic studies will be carried out to “reconfirm” that the tortoise found belongs to the Fernandina Island species.
The rare Fernandina Giant Tortoise, believed extinct, was seen earlier last week for the first time in one hundred years.
The tracks and scent of other tortoises, believed to be of the same species, were also observed by the team.
Conservationists have taken the tortoise to a breeding center on the nearby island of Santa Cruz, to recover the species.
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