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Giant tortoise species thought to be extinct found alive near Galapagos Islands

Posted at 4:44 PM, Feb 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-21 17:45:01-05

(CNN) – Scientists are thrilled after a species of a giant tortoise thought to be extinct has been found alive near the Galapagos Islands.

CNN reports that the Fernandina giant tortoise was last seen alive in 1906. Experts believed the species was extinct.

But an adult female was spotted Sunday on the Galapagos island of Fernandina. It’s believed that she’s not alone.

Conservations have taken the tortoise to a breeding center on a nearby island with hopes of keeping the species alive.

The Fernandina giant tortoise is one of 14 tortoise species native to the Galapagos Islands. Most of them are endangered.

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