NASA satellite data and aerial imagery played a huge role in reintroducing descendants of extinct species of giant tortoise back to Galápagos Islands

A landmark giant tortoise reintroduction program on the Galápagos Islands used NASA satellite data and aerial imagery to help scientists pinpoint the perfect location for the reptiles’ release. It’s been roughly 180 years since the Floreana giant tortoise was driven to extinction due to over hunting and habit loss. The Floreana giant tortoise is famous for having been witnessed by Charles Darwin himself, where the species was already said to be in steep decline.

However, a long-term conservation program has put relatives of these incredible reptiles back on home soil for the first time since the mid-1800s. I say relatives, because they aren’t pure Floreana giant tortoises. Instead, they’re bred from descendants of the Floreana giant tortoise, first discovered by scientists including Dr. James Gibbs in 2000 at Isabela Island’s Wolf Volcano. Despite thinking that the Floreana line was all but extinct, these tortoises were found to have “significant Floreana ancestry.”

Fast forward to February 20 of this year and a total of 158 tortoises from the Santa Cruz Island breeding center were reintroduced to Floreana Island, some 180 years since the Floreana giant tortoise went extinct. But finding a suitable home for the tortoises on the archipelago wasn’t taken lightly. Scientists scrutinized the Galápagos Islands for the perfect locations to give the tortoises the best chance of thriving in their new home. That’s where NASA comes in.

Combining NASA satellite data with field observations, the team of scientists were able to map Galápagos’ environmental conditions, while also tracking the islands’ vegetation, moisture and temperature shifts. All vital information to ensure that the 158 reptiles could sustain themselves, longterm. Dr Gibbs, along with principal investigator Giorgos Mountrakis and their team used the data to form a decision tool to calculate habitat suitability and Floreana Island came out on top.

According to NASA, the scientists’ decision tool uses multiple NASA and partner satellite missions to gather data, as well as high-resolution commercial satellite imagery via NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program, used to identify potential locations prior to dispatching personnel for field observation.

But this data doesn’t just allow the scientists to pinpoint suitable locations now, it allows them to forecast the suitability of locations well into the future. This is crucial in providing the tortoises with the best chance of success. As Mountrakis told NASA: “This isn’t a one-year project. We’re looking at where tortoises will succeed 20, 40 years from now.”

And the work isn’t done. The Floreana Ecological Restoration Project aims to remove invasive predators and ultimately reintroduce 12 native species back onto the island, with NASA satellite data playing a crucial role in future conservation efforts.

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