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    HomeGalleries- StoriesFeature Stories

    Ghosts of the Galápagos60

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    In January 2020, the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative mounted the most ambitious giant tortoise expedition to date. The mission: to find descendants of the long-extinct Floreana and Pinta tortoises, and breed them to help restore these lost bloodlines to their original Galápagos islands. Given the long lifespans of the reptiles in question, only our kids and grandkids will be there to witness the results.

    Download our full story PDF, including text, here.

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    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) resting, Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01649023
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) resting, Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Sierra Negra Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra guentheri) hatchling with egg, held in human hand. Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01497528
    Tui De Roy / Sierra Negra Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra guentheri) hatchling with egg, held in human hand. Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) in habitat. Hybrids of mixed parentage with different shell shapes are scattered far and wide on the rugged west slope of Wolf Volcano. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Is...
    01649021
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) in habitat. Hybrids of mixed parentage with different shell shapes are scattered far and wide on the rugged west slope of Wolf Volcano. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Is...
    Paul D Stewart / Illustration of 'Albemarle Island' (now Isabela) hand coloured engraving by Huyot and Bepard facing page 520 in 'All Around the World' published in 1872 by William Collins & Son. Shows the large calde...
    01388303
    Paul D Stewart / Illustration of 'Albemarle Island' (now Isabela) hand coloured engraving by Huyot and Bepard facing page 520 in 'All Around the World' published in 1872 by William Collins & Son. Shows the large calde...
    Tui De Roy / Embalmed remains of the last Pinta saddleback tortoise (Geochelone abingdonensis) named 'Lonesome George'. With backdrop photo of Pinta Island donated to the public exhibit by Tui De Roy, Fuas...
    01649039
    Tui De Roy / Embalmed remains of the last Pinta saddleback tortoise (Geochelone abingdonensis) named 'Lonesome George'. With backdrop photo of Pinta Island donated to the public exhibit by Tui De Roy, Fuas...
    Tui De Roy / Pinta saddleback tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonensis) 'Lonsesome George', with his keeper. The last of his species, who died in 2012. Tortoise Breeding Centre, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island,...
    01651538
    Tui De Roy / Pinta saddleback tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonensis) 'Lonsesome George', with his keeper. The last of his species, who died in 2012. Tortoise Breeding Centre, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island,...
    Tui De Roy / Galapagos National Park team taking blood samples from Wolf Volcano giant tortoise (Geochelone becki). This is used for DNA analysis to trace descendants of extinct Pinta and Floreana species to begin...
    01649020
    Tui De Roy / Galapagos National Park team taking blood samples from Wolf Volcano giant tortoise (Geochelone becki). This is used for DNA analysis to trace descendants of extinct Pinta and Floreana species to begin...
    Tui De Roy / Wolf Volcano giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra becki) being marked with paint by Galapagos National Park workers, after having blood taken for DNA analysis, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01399472
    Tui De Roy / Wolf Volcano giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra becki) being marked with paint by Galapagos National Park workers, after having blood taken for DNA analysis, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) two males fight briefly over mating rights. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01649025
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) two males fight briefly over mating rights. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Fernandina giant tortoise (Chelonoidis fantasticus). Discovered on Fernandina Island in February 2019, where the species was believed extinct, this small female awaits genetic testing to confirm her l...
    01649040
    Tui De Roy / Fernandina giant tortoise (Chelonoidis fantasticus). Discovered on Fernandina Island in February 2019, where the species was believed extinct, this small female awaits genetic testing to confirm her l...
    Tui De Roy / Floreana giant tortoise hybrid descendant (Chelonoidis elephantopus). This individual is a descendant of the extinct Floreana giant tortoise, but hybridised with other species. Fausto Llerena Giant Tr...
    01612738
    Tui De Roy / Floreana giant tortoise hybrid descendant (Chelonoidis elephantopus). This individual is a descendant of the extinct Floreana giant tortoise, but hybridised with other species. Fausto Llerena Giant Tr...
    Tui De Roy / Floreana giant tortoise (Chelonoidis elephantopus) hybrid descendant male and female hybrid at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Centre for the purpose of repopulating Floreana Island. This species...
    01649047
    Tui De Roy / Floreana giant tortoise (Chelonoidis elephantopus) hybrid descendant male and female hybrid at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Centre for the purpose of repopulating Floreana Island. This species...
    Tui De Roy / Floreana giant tortoise hybrid descendant (Chelonoidis elephantopus). This individual is a descendant of the extinct Floreana giant tortoise, but hybridised with other species. Fausto Llerena Giant Tr...
    01612740
    Tui De Roy / Floreana giant tortoise hybrid descendant (Chelonoidis elephantopus). This individual is a descendant of the extinct Floreana giant tortoise, but hybridised with other species. Fausto Llerena Giant Tr...
    Tui De Roy / Steep, broken lava covered in dense, thorny vegetation on the western slope of Wolf Volcano, where hybrid descendants of Pinta and Floreana tortoises are mixed within the Wolf tortoise population. Wol...
    01649036
    Tui De Roy / Steep, broken lava covered in dense, thorny vegetation on the western slope of Wolf Volcano, where hybrid descendants of Pinta and Floreana tortoises are mixed within the Wolf tortoise population. Wol...
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) aggressive displays, settled by he who can reach highest. This often giving the advantage to the more saddlebacked shaped individual, even if overall smaller. W...
    01649022
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) aggressive displays, settled by he who can reach highest. This often giving the advantage to the more saddlebacked shaped individual, even if overall smaller. W...
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) portrait. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01649031
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) portrait. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Helicopter support, brought by ship from mainland Ecuador, was vital to the success of the Wolf expedition Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01649051
    Tui De Roy / Helicopter support, brought by ship from mainland Ecuador, was vital to the success of the Wolf expedition Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Galapagos tortoise searching teams aboard the Galapagos National Park patrol launch boat 'Sierra Negra', Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01649049
    Tui De Roy / Galapagos tortoise searching teams aboard the Galapagos National Park patrol launch boat 'Sierra Negra', Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Washington (Wacho) Tapia, director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative and leader of the Wolf expedition Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01649050
    Tui De Roy / Washington (Wacho) Tapia, director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative and leader of the Wolf expedition Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Rugged shores of Banks Bay, where whalers two centuries ago inadvertently let some Florenana and Pinta tortoises escape, which later bred with the local species. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapago...
    01649037
    Tui De Roy / Rugged shores of Banks Bay, where whalers two centuries ago inadvertently let some Florenana and Pinta tortoises escape, which later bred with the local species. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapago...
    Tui De Roy / Pinta giant tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdoni) hybrid cross with Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki). Found in January 2020, and around 15 years old, she will become the nucleus of a new captive bre...
    01649019
    Tui De Roy / Pinta giant tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdoni) hybrid cross with Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki). Found in January 2020, and around 15 years old, she will become the nucleus of a new captive bre...
    Tui De Roy / Park wardens recording the size and sex of each tortoise they encounter, and reading the tiny electronic tags implanted under the skin of their hind leg to check against a list of genetically desirabl...
    01649013
    Tui De Roy / Park wardens recording the size and sex of each tortoise they encounter, and reading the tiny electronic tags implanted under the skin of their hind leg to check against a list of genetically desirabl...
    Tui De Roy / Floreana hybrid giant toretoises are helicoptered in from Wolf Volcano to the Fausto Llerena breeding facility on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    01649016
    Tui De Roy / Floreana hybrid giant toretoises are helicoptered in from Wolf Volcano to the Fausto Llerena breeding facility on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    Tui De Roy / Floreana hybrid giant toretoises are helicoptered in from Wolf Volcano to the Fausto Llerena breeding facility on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    01649015
    Tui De Roy / Floreana hybrid giant toretoises are helicoptered in from Wolf Volcano to the Fausto Llerena breeding facility on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    Tui De Roy / Floreana hybrid giant toretoises are helicoptered in from Wolf Volcano to the Fausto Llerena breeding facility on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    01649014
    Tui De Roy / Floreana hybrid giant toretoises are helicoptered in from Wolf Volcano to the Fausto Llerena breeding facility on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki). Hybrids of mixed parentage with different shell shapes are scattered far and wide on the rugged west slope of Wolf Volcano. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galap...
    01649029
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki). Hybrids of mixed parentage with different shell shapes are scattered far and wide on the rugged west slope of Wolf Volcano. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galap...
    Tui De Roy / Wolf-Volcano giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra becki) portrait with ground finch (Geospiza sp. ) sitting on foot, Isabela Island, Galapagos. Did you know? Galapagos tortoises have a mutualistic relati...
    01399471
    Tui De Roy / Wolf-Volcano giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra becki) portrait with ground finch (Geospiza sp. ) sitting on foot, Isabela Island, Galapagos. Did you know? Galapagos tortoises have a mutualistic relati...
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) group drinking from small puddles formed by fine drizzle. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01649034
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) group drinking from small puddles formed by fine drizzle. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) group drinking from small puddles formed by fine drizzle. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01649033
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) group drinking from small puddles formed by fine drizzle. Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) pair mating, Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    01649024
    Tui De Roy / Wolf giant tortoise (Chelonoidis becki) pair mating, Wolf Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon giant tortoise (Chelonoidis duncanensis), saddleback type typical of arid island, their long necks and raised shell allowing them to browse on cacti. Captive-raised as hatchlings to protect the...
    01649404
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon giant tortoise (Chelonoidis duncanensis), saddleback type typical of arid island, their long necks and raised shell allowing them to browse on cacti. Captive-raised as hatchlings to protect the...
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon giant tortoise (Chelonoidis duncanensis), saddleback type typical of arid island, their long necks and raised shell allowing them to browse on cacti. Captive-raised as hatchlings to protect the...
    01649401
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon giant tortoise (Chelonoidis duncanensis), saddleback type typical of arid island, their long necks and raised shell allowing them to browse on cacti. Captive-raised as hatchlings to protect the...
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon Island Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra ephippium) pair fighting, Pinzon Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
    00599686
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon Island Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra ephippium) pair fighting, Pinzon Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon giant tortoise (Chelonoidis duncanensis), two males facing off. Captive-raised as hatchlings to protect them from introduced black rats, adults have started breeding naturally again since rats...
    01649411
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon giant tortoise (Chelonoidis duncanensis), two males facing off. Captive-raised as hatchlings to protect them from introduced black rats, adults have started breeding naturally again since rats...
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon Island Tortoise (Chelonoidis ephippium) group being transported from breeding center back to place of origin, Fausto Llerena Tortoise Center, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
    00573182
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon Island Tortoise (Chelonoidis ephippium) group being transported from breeding center back to place of origin, Fausto Llerena Tortoise Center, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon giant tortoise (Chelonoidis ephipium) moved by helicopter for breeding program, Galapagos National Park Headquarters, Santa Cruz Island., Galapagos.
    01651539
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon giant tortoise (Chelonoidis ephipium) moved by helicopter for breeding program, Galapagos National Park Headquarters, Santa Cruz Island., Galapagos.
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon racer snake (Pseudoalsophis slevini), Pinzon Island, Galapagos, Ecuador
    01649408
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon racer snake (Pseudoalsophis slevini), Pinzon Island, Galapagos, Ecuador
    Tui De Roy / Galapagos vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus nanus) male perched on twig, Pinzon Island, Galapagos. Endemic species.
    01649407
    Tui De Roy / Galapagos vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus nanus) male perched on twig, Pinzon Island, Galapagos. Endemic species.
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon land snail (Naesiotus pinzonensis) two snails on ground surrounded by ants. Pinzon Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.
    01649409
    Tui De Roy / Pinzon land snail (Naesiotus pinzonensis) two snails on ground surrounded by ants. Pinzon Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddleback tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis). 'Diego' feeding on cactus, one of the three surviving adult males. This male was returned from the San Diego Zoo in 1977 for breeding purpo...
    01649043
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddleback tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis). 'Diego' feeding on cactus, one of the three surviving adult males. This male was returned from the San Diego Zoo in 1977 for breeding purpo...
    Tui De Roy / Conservationist making notes,with tray of Galapagos tortoise eggs. Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Centre run by the Galapagos National Park Directorate, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    01649048
    Tui De Roy / Conservationist making notes,with tray of Galapagos tortoise eggs. Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Centre run by the Galapagos National Park Directorate, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddleback tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis) laying eggs in 2015 at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Centre, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. One of 13 remaining old females taken into captivi...
    01649042
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddleback tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis) laying eggs in 2015 at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Centre, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. One of 13 remaining old females taken into captivi...
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddleback tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis), captive at Tortoise Breeding Centre, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    01651504
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddleback tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis), captive at Tortoise Breeding Centre, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddleback tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis) hatchlings emerging from eggs laid at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Centre, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    01649045
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddleback tortoise (Geochelone hoodensis) hatchlings emerging from eggs laid at the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Centre, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.
    Tui De Roy / Epanola saddelback tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis), with Galapagos mockingbird (Mimus parvulus) perched on carapace, Espnola Island, Galapagos.
    01651007
    Tui De Roy / Epanola saddelback tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis), with Galapagos mockingbird (Mimus parvulus) perched on carapace, Espnola Island, Galapagos.
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddelback tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis) pair mating, Espanola Island, Galapagos.
    01651505
    Tui De Roy / Espanola saddelback tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis) pair mating, Espanola Island, Galapagos.
    Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi), Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island. This is where the largest extant population exists, acting as ecosystem engineers by maintaining open meadows and digg...
    01649041
    Tui De Roy / Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi), Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island. This is where the largest extant population exists, acting as ecosystem engineers by maintaining open meadows and digg...
    Tui De Roy / 'Lonesome Goergette', a distant relative of the late Lonesome George is gently lowered by Wacho Tyapia (director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Intiative) into her new enclosure at the Faus...
    01649018
    Tui De Roy / 'Lonesome Goergette', a distant relative of the late Lonesome George is gently lowered by Wacho Tyapia (director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Intiative) into her new enclosure at the Faus...
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