Quito, February 21 (QNA) - Ecuador's Ministry of Environment announced that scientists and forest rangers have released 150 giant tortoises onto Floreana Island in the Galapagos archipelago, after they had been extinct there for over a century.

The ministry confirmed that the tortoises have adapted to their natural habitat after passing through volcanic terrain and challenging areas, where they had been living in a center within a national park in the Galapagos.

Each tortoise underwent a lengthy quarantine and was microchipped for identification before being released into the forest. (QNA)