FLOREANA ISLAND, Galapagos (AP) 鈥� Juvenile from the Gal谩pagos National Park鈥檚 breeding center on Santa Cruz Island, as part of a project to restore the species to its native habitat
The original Floreana giant tortoise was driven to extinction in the 19th century largely after sailors and whalers took tortoises for food. Later, introduced animals such as rats and feral cats preyed on eggs and hatchlings, while other invasive species degraded habitat and food sources.
Scientists later found tortoises with Floreana ancestry on other islands and began selectively breeding hybrids for reintroduction once juveniles are large enough to survive.
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