Galápagos Tortoise

Lore & Background

The Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise was long thought extinct, with no confirmed sightings since 1906. That changed in February 2019, when a team including biologist Washington Tapia-Aguilera, four Ecuadorian park rangers, and Forrest Galante's crew discovered a single female tortoise on the remote Galápagos Islands. The discovery was made while shooting footage for season two of *Extinct or Alive*. Trace evidence found on the expedition suggested that more individuals likely exist in the wild, prompting plans for new searches to find a male that could potentially save the species. However, the claim of discovery has been disputed. Tapia-Aguilera stated that he actually decided where to look for the tortoise, and that Ecuadorian park ranger Jeffreys Málaga was the one that knew the land, tracked the tortoise, and ultimately made the discovery before calling over the rest of the team. This controversy highlights the complex dynamics of field research and credit in conservation science.

In Their Own Story

On a remote volcanic slope of the Galápagos Islands in February 2019, a team of biologists and park rangers moved through the rugged terrain, searching for a creature that had not been seen in over a century. The Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise had been presumed extinct since 1906, its existence reduced to museum specimens and old field notes. Then, among the ferns and lava rocks, they found her—a single female tortoise, alive. The discovery was made during filming for *Extinct or Alive*, and the team included biologist Washington Tapia-Aguilera, four Ecuadorian park rangers, and Forrest Galante's crew. Trace evidence found on the expedition indicated that more individuals likely exist in the wild, and new searches were being planned to find a male Fernandina tortoise that could potentially save the species. But the story does not end there. Tapia-Aguilera later disputed Galante's claim of discovery, saying that Ecuadorian park ranger Jeffreys Málaga was the one that knew the land, tracked the tortoise, and ultimately made the discovery before calling over the rest of the team.

Reader's Guide

The Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise is found only on the remote Galápagos Islands, specifically on Fernandina Island. The species was presumed extinct from 1906 until February 2019, when a single female was discovered during an expedition for *Extinct or Alive*. The discovery was made by a team including biologist Washington Tapia-Aguilera, four Ecuadorian park rangers, and Forrest Galante's crew. Trace evidence found on the expedition indicated that more individuals likely exist in the wild, and new searches were being planned to find a male Fernandina tortoise that could potentially save the species. The claim of discovery has been disputed by Tapia-Aguilera, who said that Ecuadorian park ranger Jeffreys Málaga was the one that knew the land, tracked the tortoise, and ultimately made the discovery before calling over the rest of the team.

Did You Know?

• The Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise was presumed extinct since 1906 until a single female was discovered in February 2019.
• The discovery was made during filming for season two of *Extinct or Alive* on the remote Galápagos Islands.
• Biologist Washington Tapia-Aguilera disputed Forrest Galante's claim of discovery, stating that Ecuadorian park ranger Jeffreys Málaga tracked and found the tortoise first.
• Trace evidence found on the expedition indicated that more individuals likely exist in the wild.
• New searches were being planned to find a male Fernandina tortoise that could potentially save the species.