Santa Cruz Island
This morning we made a civilized, dry landing on the main dock of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and took buses to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here we learned from our naturalists about the conservations efforts to restore the dynasty of the giant tortoises. The scientists associated with the Charles Darwin Research Station provide the data and guidelines for the Galápagos National Park Service. The Park Service is in charge of eradication and restoration projects, many of which have been wonderfully successful.
Our tortoise breeding project is one of the world’s most successful programs for raising endangered animals in captivity. Over three thousand of these gentle reptiles have been repatriated to the islands of their origin. The wild populations of these unique animals were heavily decimated in the 1700 and 1800’s by sailors, sealers and whalers. More recently introduced mammals that compete for their food and destroy their nests have added to the decline of the tortoises.
Land iguana numbers as well have declined dramatically in recent years due mostly to predation by pigs, dogs, cats and rats; introduced predators that they are not instinctively capable of avoiding. Captive breeding of the land iguanas has also been successful and hundreds of iguanas have been released into the wild. Following our visit to the breeding pens we strolled through town taking photos or shopping.
We took buses into the highlands where many of us hiked through an impressive lava tunnel. After a delicious lunch we explored the lush and beautiful greenery in search again of tortoises, but this time in their natural habitat. We were delighted to find over twenty and we took many pictures! In the Scalasia forests that surround Los Gemelos pit craters, we identified Darwin’s finches, Galápagos doves and the brilliant vermillion flycatcher. This has been a very different, and quite remarkable Tuesday in our lives!
This morning we made a civilized, dry landing on the main dock of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and took buses to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here we learned from our naturalists about the conservations efforts to restore the dynasty of the giant tortoises. The scientists associated with the Charles Darwin Research Station provide the data and guidelines for the Galápagos National Park Service. The Park Service is in charge of eradication and restoration projects, many of which have been wonderfully successful.
Our tortoise breeding project is one of the world’s most successful programs for raising endangered animals in captivity. Over three thousand of these gentle reptiles have been repatriated to the islands of their origin. The wild populations of these unique animals were heavily decimated in the 1700 and 1800’s by sailors, sealers and whalers. More recently introduced mammals that compete for their food and destroy their nests have added to the decline of the tortoises.
Land iguana numbers as well have declined dramatically in recent years due mostly to predation by pigs, dogs, cats and rats; introduced predators that they are not instinctively capable of avoiding. Captive breeding of the land iguanas has also been successful and hundreds of iguanas have been released into the wild. Following our visit to the breeding pens we strolled through town taking photos or shopping.
We took buses into the highlands where many of us hiked through an impressive lava tunnel. After a delicious lunch we explored the lush and beautiful greenery in search again of tortoises, but this time in their natural habitat. We were delighted to find over twenty and we took many pictures! In the Scalasia forests that surround Los Gemelos pit craters, we identified Darwin’s finches, Galápagos doves and the brilliant vermillion flycatcher. This has been a very different, and quite remarkable Tuesday in our lives!
