Floreana Island
A day of surprises and discoveries!
It all started when the alarm was raised amongst the guides that there was a strange looking sea lion hanging around Champion Island. Several of our guests had witnessed this strange phenomenon before the guides ran out to get some positive photo/video ID!
The ‘sealion’ was about 6’6” long but seemed thin. It had thick fur like that of our regular Galapagos fur seals but the most prominent feature was this long nose which gave it a kind of awkward look. Our research enabled us to narrow its identity down to either the Juan Fernández or the Guadalupe fur seal. The former is a very rare species down to just a few thousand individuals living on the Juan Fernández islands almost four thousand miles south of Galapagos. The latter is also a recovering species found in several areas of Baja California. Either way, the presence of this animal amongst the native sealions means that it’s traveled a long way to be there and may never return. It also gives us a sharp reminder of the origin of many of the familiar native animals of Galapagos who’s ancestors must have arrived ship-wrecked and desperate too.
Our afternoon’s walk revealed close views of flamingo chicks. It was a new view for many of us to see such tiny flamingos so close. They had their distinct call, were gray and fluffy and for the first time ever, were coming out to meet us.
An unforgettable day in a truly magical place!
A day of surprises and discoveries!
It all started when the alarm was raised amongst the guides that there was a strange looking sea lion hanging around Champion Island. Several of our guests had witnessed this strange phenomenon before the guides ran out to get some positive photo/video ID!
The ‘sealion’ was about 6’6” long but seemed thin. It had thick fur like that of our regular Galapagos fur seals but the most prominent feature was this long nose which gave it a kind of awkward look. Our research enabled us to narrow its identity down to either the Juan Fernández or the Guadalupe fur seal. The former is a very rare species down to just a few thousand individuals living on the Juan Fernández islands almost four thousand miles south of Galapagos. The latter is also a recovering species found in several areas of Baja California. Either way, the presence of this animal amongst the native sealions means that it’s traveled a long way to be there and may never return. It also gives us a sharp reminder of the origin of many of the familiar native animals of Galapagos who’s ancestors must have arrived ship-wrecked and desperate too.
Our afternoon’s walk revealed close views of flamingo chicks. It was a new view for many of us to see such tiny flamingos so close. They had their distinct call, were gray and fluffy and for the first time ever, were coming out to meet us.
An unforgettable day in a truly magical place!
