Google’s Street View Trekker Makes A Return Trip To The Galapagos Islands

Google’s Street View cameras recently made a return trip to the Galapagos to catch up with the local population of giant tortoises.

The company first launched Street View imagery of the islands back in 2013, when it partnered with the Charles Darwin Foundation and Galápagos National Park to produce the first set of images. Last year, the company sponsored a similar trip to collect more imagery from more of the islands with a focus on the giant tortoises that are one of the most recognizable symbols of the islands.

Thanks to this updated imagery, you can now take a leisurely (virtual) stroll across many of the islands’ trails to see the animals in their natural habitat.

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The company says the main idea here is to support the ongoing conservation efforts and scientific studies. Not too long ago, it looked like some tortoises species on the islands were in danger of going extinct, but today the population is growing again thanks to a number of conservation efforts that include breeding centers and the eradication of invasive species.