At seven o’clock in the morning the National Geographic Endeavour anchored in Academy Bay. We quickly informed guests on the ship of the beautiful weather conditions for our walk.
By eight thirty we disembarked to the national park pier and we walked to the station facility. We decided to stop by the shade house where is possible to interpret the native garden with all kind of endemic plants. The wetness of the area and the vivid green in the station surrounding impressed the guests who were not expecting such a life color in the visit.
Later we went slowly to the tortoise enclosure and the question pop up immediately there is a great interest for what the station and the park service together do to improve the living conditions of such an iconic Galapagos creature. We spoke about the six tortoises in the first pin, and by using this example we explain why this facilities are not considerate a zoo. Most of the tortoises were collected from locals who kept them for long captive in their own back yard; perhaps thinking that the possession of this creature could be profitable.
We walked by the facility where Diego the tortoise lives, this resulted as the best opportunity to speak about how Espanola Island ended up in the enclosure of the Darwin Station while we shared all details of when and how we found Diego. The next is to go where we used to see George, he is not among us any longer but the memories are fresh is good to meditate about him and what did to preserve him.
After the visit at the Station, we walked back to Puerto Ayora, there was a quick stop at the fish market follow by the bus station to go on to the highlands where we have more of this great expedition. Local farm to show what local use as alternative for living such coffee plantation combine with other farming activities.
Delicious lunch awaited for us in the highlands to help us keep going on with the wild tortoises program near the reserve on Santa Cruz. When we got there, we had no idea of how close you can see these animals in the area and is not the only exciting activity -soon after we went finch watching. Tomorrow the adventure will go on this time in another different but awesome island.
