Southern Isabela
Exploration today started before breakfast on the southern side of Isabela and specifically in Bahia Urbina, one of those locations with an abundance of wildlife; Isabela is one of the inhabited islands of the archipelago and unfortunately introduced species such as wasps are sharing habitat with the native and endemic creatures. Today we know that this is the real threat to pristine ecosystems, not only in the Galápagos, but worldwide.
Early visitors of the islands, back in the fourteen and fifteen hundreds, were to blame for some of the introduction of species, which with time became a problem and put some of the animal communities here at the brink of extinction; the emblematic Land Iguanas and the Giant Tortoises that are found on the different volcanos of Isabela were part of the affected group.
Since 1959 the Galápagos National Park System has been working actively to eradicate or control these invaders. Sophisticated programs like “Project Isabela” (eradication of goats) have been 100% successful; cats, dogs, pigs and donkeys have been controlled. The National Park Service, with the research done by the Charles Darwin Foundation, has managed to restore some of the very unique ecosystems that are home for Land Iguanas and also Giant Tortoises. Today, healthy populations of Land Iguanas can be found as we walk along the visitor site.
Vegetation in this part of the islands is not only food for the different species that roam the arid zone, it is also shelter; the very drastic conditions animal species face in this particular environment make the vegetation the key element to keep the populations healthy once again.
The Galápagos Archipelago is one of the most successful examples of ecosystem restoration. Entire ecosystems or islands have been saved from erosion and extinction not only by having eradication campaigns but also by planting back the endemic and native vegetation the iconic animal species need for survival.
Exploration today started before breakfast on the southern side of Isabela and specifically in Bahia Urbina, one of those locations with an abundance of wildlife; Isabela is one of the inhabited islands of the archipelago and unfortunately introduced species such as wasps are sharing habitat with the native and endemic creatures. Today we know that this is the real threat to pristine ecosystems, not only in the Galápagos, but worldwide.
Early visitors of the islands, back in the fourteen and fifteen hundreds, were to blame for some of the introduction of species, which with time became a problem and put some of the animal communities here at the brink of extinction; the emblematic Land Iguanas and the Giant Tortoises that are found on the different volcanos of Isabela were part of the affected group.
Since 1959 the Galápagos National Park System has been working actively to eradicate or control these invaders. Sophisticated programs like “Project Isabela” (eradication of goats) have been 100% successful; cats, dogs, pigs and donkeys have been controlled. The National Park Service, with the research done by the Charles Darwin Foundation, has managed to restore some of the very unique ecosystems that are home for Land Iguanas and also Giant Tortoises. Today, healthy populations of Land Iguanas can be found as we walk along the visitor site.
Vegetation in this part of the islands is not only food for the different species that roam the arid zone, it is also shelter; the very drastic conditions animal species face in this particular environment make the vegetation the key element to keep the populations healthy once again.
The Galápagos Archipelago is one of the most successful examples of ecosystem restoration. Entire ecosystems or islands have been saved from erosion and extinction not only by having eradication campaigns but also by planting back the endemic and native vegetation the iconic animal species need for survival.
