Pto Villamil, Isabela Island
Tortoise 728 was born in captivity at the giant tortoises’ breeding center in Pto Villamil. It is one of the lucky ones that have been protected since its early days from the unfortunate introduction of animals that destroy the natural habitat of these deceivingly fragile reptiles.
Shortly after they are born in the incubators, tortoises are placed in corrals that mimic their natural environments as much as possible. Afterwards, they would be repatriated to their original habitat once they have reached certain size and weight. This is a common procedure that not only tortoise 728 has to go through, but also its sisters, brothers, cousins and all the possible relatives to these tortoise, that have been lucky enough to be born under the protection of this program.
Pto Villamil is famous because of its lead in the conservationist attitude of its inhabitants. The majority of the community is nowadays involved in one way or another with the National Park service and the protection of its unique species.
The road to get to this thinking was not, and is still not, easy at all. There were a lot of obstacles to cross before the local fishermen (the controlling force in town) were even considering the possibility to cooperate with the National Park, but rules have been set, and priorities have been given to both community and wildlife for the benefit of the Galápagos in general.
The peacefulness of this town is felt in the air when walking along its enormous and clearly unspoiled beach.
The town itself has grown around a small brackish water lagoon with Flamingoes and some shore birds, and the very simple houses around it represent not poverty, but the simplicity of a life free of the common hunger of wealth and accumulation of valueless things, so common in other touristy areas in the world.
In general, our visit to this town was hopefully not only a view into the corrals of the giant tortoises, but a profound view inside of the lives and souls of simple people that makes a huge difference when it comes to take care of things that should be really important to us.
Tortoise 728 was born in captivity at the giant tortoises’ breeding center in Pto Villamil. It is one of the lucky ones that have been protected since its early days from the unfortunate introduction of animals that destroy the natural habitat of these deceivingly fragile reptiles.
Shortly after they are born in the incubators, tortoises are placed in corrals that mimic their natural environments as much as possible. Afterwards, they would be repatriated to their original habitat once they have reached certain size and weight. This is a common procedure that not only tortoise 728 has to go through, but also its sisters, brothers, cousins and all the possible relatives to these tortoise, that have been lucky enough to be born under the protection of this program.
Pto Villamil is famous because of its lead in the conservationist attitude of its inhabitants. The majority of the community is nowadays involved in one way or another with the National Park service and the protection of its unique species.
The road to get to this thinking was not, and is still not, easy at all. There were a lot of obstacles to cross before the local fishermen (the controlling force in town) were even considering the possibility to cooperate with the National Park, but rules have been set, and priorities have been given to both community and wildlife for the benefit of the Galápagos in general.
The peacefulness of this town is felt in the air when walking along its enormous and clearly unspoiled beach.
The town itself has grown around a small brackish water lagoon with Flamingoes and some shore birds, and the very simple houses around it represent not poverty, but the simplicity of a life free of the common hunger of wealth and accumulation of valueless things, so common in other touristy areas in the world.
In general, our visit to this town was hopefully not only a view into the corrals of the giant tortoises, but a profound view inside of the lives and souls of simple people that makes a huge difference when it comes to take care of things that should be really important to us.
