Nothing impresses a visitor to Galapagos as much as the innocence that one sees in the creatures that are found in this Archipelago. To be able to approach a wild animal that is quietly feeding in its natural habitat, and have it calmly gaze in your direction and then continue as if you weren't even present, really gives us Homo Sapiens a thrill.
This giant tortoise had no fear at all of us -- he continued munching on the lush meadow grasses as we hiked to within a few feet of him. We found 28 lumbering tortoises this afternoon during our trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Their ancestors were carried off in the holds of whaling vessels by the hundreds, yet tortoises never learned to fear man. Truly, the fearlessness of these unique island species is enchanting to behold -- in very few places in the world is mankind so readily accepted by our animal brethren anymore!
