Santa Cruz Island
The National Geographic Endeavour took us overnight back to civilization, to the town of Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island. In less than 24 hours we went from one of the most pristine places on earth, Fernandina Island, to a town full of life with about 18,000 to 20,000 inhabitants, so called “Galápagueños.”
Being the headquarters of the Galápagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Station, Puerto Ayora is a must for visitors. Here we had the chance to visit the tortoise rearing centre, where every year, baby Galápagos tortoises are born from the eggs collected on every island where tortoises are unable to breed successfully due to the presence of introduced predators such as rats, cats or pigs. We also met one of the most famous tortoises on earth, Lonesome George, the only individual alive, remaining from Pinta island subspecies. George now lives with two females from Wolf Volcano (Isabela Island), and scientists are trying hard to preserve his genetic legacy.
The total adult population from Española, 2 males and 11 females, is also living here in captivity for breeding purposes. Back in the early 1970’s, the breeding program started with these individuals.
Up to now, about 5,000 little tortoises, born in captivity, have been released to their original Islands.
After a delicious lunch on a private farm up in the highlands of Santa Cruz, where our young explorers enjoyed a fresh water pool, we went to a higher elevation to the pit craters, a couple of very interesting geological formations, and then in search for the giant tortoises and some birds such as the vermilion flycatcher and the beautiful and always inquisitive barn owls.
After seeing the icons of Galápagos, the giant tortoises, we headed back to town for the last shopping and, why not, the last opportunity to see the Galápagos human life.
Tomorrow our adventure will continue…
