Despite being one of the most renowned island chains in the world for its biodiversity, the Galápagos Islands continue to yield remarkable discoveries that astonish scientists. A recent breakthrough highlights how the archipelago remains a source of intrigue and inspiration for conservationists and researchers alike.
A bird first observed and recorded by Charles Darwin during his historic visit to Floreana Island in 1835 has been spotted in the wild there for the first time in nearly two centuries. The species, known as the Galápagos rail (Laterallus spilonota), is a small, elusive bird that has long been considered locally extinct on Floreana due to habitat degradation and the introduction of invasive species.
Darwin meticulously documented his observations of the island’s diverse fauna, including the rail, during his expedition aboard the HMS Beagle. However, in the years that followed, the Galápagos rail largely vanished from Floreana, a consequence of human settlement and the introduction of invasive predators such as rats and feral cats. These non-native species devastated the local ecosystem, preying on ground-dwelling birds and their eggs while competing with native wildlife for food and habitat.
In an effort to reverse the ecological damage caused by these invasive species, conservation organizations launched the Floreana Island Restoration Project two years ago. This ambitious initiative aimed to restore the island’s natural environment by systematically removing invasive species and allowing native flora and fauna to recover. The project has already yielded positive results, creating conditions conducive to the return of species once thought lost.
The Galápagos rail, which is endemic to the archipelago, has always faced challenges due to its reliance on dense vegetation for shelter. Being a flightless bird, it is particularly vulnerable to predation, making it highly susceptible to population declines when faced with threats from invasive species. However, despite these challenges, the rail has proven to be a remarkably resilient bird.
The species has shown a tendency to recolonize areas where conservation efforts have restored native ecosystems. In 2018, just six years after invasive species were eradicated from nearby Pinzón Island by the conservation nonprofit Island Conservation, the Galápagos rail was one of the first locally extinct animals to reappear. It was observed alongside other returning species such as the cactus finch, demonstrating the effectiveness of well-executed restoration programs.
Though the Floreana Island Restoration Project is still in its early stages, the impact is already evident. Recent surveys conducted as part of the annual landbird monitoring expedition by teams from the Charles Darwin Foundation and Ecuador’s government agency overseeing the Galápagos confirmed the presence of the Galápagos rail at three different locations on Floreana.
The bird was observed in grassland areas shaded by guava trees, far from human habitation and agricultural zones. The survey recorded six acoustic detections, two visual confirmations, and one photograph of the elusive bird. This rediscovery is particularly significant because these sites have been consistently monitored for the Galápagos rail since 2015, yet this is the first year it has been observed there again.
“The rediscovery of the Galápagos rail confirms what we’ve seen on islands worldwide—remove the invasive threats, and native species can recover in remarkable ways,” said Paula Castaño, Conservation Impact Program Manager at Island Conservation. “This is an incredible win for Floreana and fuels our excitement about what other native species might resurface as the island continues its journey toward ecological recovery.”
The next step for scientists is to conduct genetic analysis to determine whether the newly observed birds are descendants of a self-reintroduced lineage from nearby islands or if a small, undetected population of rails managed to survive on Floreana for the past 190 years. Such findings could provide valuable insights into the resilience of native species and the long-term impacts of conservation efforts.
Island Conservation has documented similar cases of species reemerging after habitat restoration. On nearby Rábida Island, the organization’s efforts led to the rediscovery of a gecko species previously known only through subfossil records dating back more than 5,000 years. The geckos had survived in very low numbers for centuries, but their population only became detectable after the island’s ecosystem was restored.
With the Galápagos rail now establishing itself once again on Floreana, conservationists are optimistic about its future. The hope is that, as the island continues to recover, the bird’s population will expand and thrive, potentially forming a stable and self-sustaining colony.
“It gives us hope that there might be even more ‘extinct’ Galápagos species to find,” stated the conservation team, reflecting the optimism surrounding these recent discoveries.
The success of the Floreana Island Restoration Project serves as a testament to the power of ecological restoration. By removing invasive species and restoring natural habitats, conservationists are not only preserving biodiversity but also proving that, given the right conditions, nature can bounce back in extraordinary ways. As efforts continue, scientists remain eager to see what other long-lost species might reappear, reinforcing the Galápagos Islands’ status as a living laboratory of evolution and resilience.
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