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Fernanda, a Fernandina giant tortoise (<em>Chelonoidis phantasticus</em>), was identified in 2019, decades after her species supposedly went extinct.
When an Extinct Species Is Found Alive, What Happens Next?
Finding a creature in the wild that had been considered long gone brings hope—and quite a bit of uncertainty.
When an Extinct Species Is Found Alive, What Happens Next?
When an Extinct Species Is Found Alive, What Happens Next?

Finding a creature in the wild that had been considered long gone brings hope—and quite a bit of uncertainty.

Finding a creature in the wild that had been considered long gone brings hope—and quite a bit of uncertainty.

tortoise

Close-up of the head of the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Her face is dirty from eating grass on a sandy beach.
How Slow Can You Go?
Hannah Thomasy, PhD | Jun 23, 2022 | 5 min read
Two studies show negligible rates of aging in some types of turtles and other cold-blooded creatures, but that doesn’t mean they’re immortal.
Tortoise Not Seen for 113 Years Found on Galapagos Island
Carolyn Wilke | Feb 25, 2019 | 1 min read
Chelonoidis phantasticus, or the Fernandina giant tortoise, was feared extinct until an expedition found a lone female in a remote area on the island of Fernandina.
Second Chance for Lost Galapagos Tortoises?
Bob Grant | Sep 14, 2017 | 2 min read
Researchers are trying to recreate an extinct species of the lumbering reptiles by breeding closely related species that contain traces of the lost lineage’s DNA.
Lonesome George Dies Alone
Hayley Dunning | Jun 25, 2012 | 1 min read
The world’s last Pinta Island tortoise died this past weekend at the age of 100.
Rare Reptiles Breed in Wild
Jef Akst | Apr 27, 2012 | 1 min read
Two baby ploughshare tortoises born to parents raised in a captive breeding program are discovered in Madagascar, validating the conservation effort.
Telltale Tortoises
Jef Akst | Apr 1, 2012 | 1 min read
Researchers are permanently marking endangered reptiles in Madagascar to keep the animals from entering the illegal wildlife trade.Read the full story. [gallery]
Marked for Life
Jef Akst | Apr 1, 2012 | 4 min read
Conservationists working in Madagascar are doing the unthinkable—defacing the shells of endangered ploughshare tortoises—but it may be the animals’ last hope.
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