Ancient DNA Gives Green Light to Galapagos Iguana Repatriation.

Hofkin, B. V., Wright, A., Altenbach, J., Rassmann, K., Snell, H. M., Miller, R. D., Stone, A. C., and Snell H. L.

Abstract:
Land Iguanas, Conolophus subcristatus, were extirpated from Isla Baltra, Galápagos Archipelago in the 1940s. Historical records indicate that some Baltra iguanas had been translocated to nearby Isla Seymour Norte in the 1930s. Plans to repatriate iguanas to Baltra were halted when evidence suggested that iguanas on Seymour Norte may not be entirely of Baltra origin. Comparison of DNA from century-old museum specimens with extant iguanas has identified those individuals of unambiguous Baltra origin on Seymour Norte. These results provide scientific criteria for the ecological restoration of these endangered reptiles.