Isabela Island
It is very impressive to be around giant tortoises in the wild. It was no less impressive the fact that these famous reptiles shared their world with us today. Like real old-time explorers we disembarked on a black volcanic beach in the remote location known as “Urvina Bay.” We followed a trail that led us away from the coastline. Our adventure had just started. Enormous land iguanas were everywhere; some were close to their burrows. We were not only fascinated with the land iguana’s majesty but with the beautiful bright color some big males were displaying. The iguanas were wonderful and made the trip worthwhile, but something amazing was still waiting us. After an exciting search we finally found a giant tortoise under a tree. The giant creature was totally unconcerned about our presence. Minutes later another one was spotted. Why we all were so excited watching these giant reptiles? Let me tell you a wonderful conservation story.
Urvina Bay is located around Alcedo Volcano. This volcano holds one of the most numerous populations of giant tortoises in the archipelago. It is estimated that no less than seven thousand of them still roam free there in the wild. On Alcedo volcano the population of giant tortoises was the most intact and primeval in the entire archipelago. The volcano is one of the most difficult ones to reach from the coast and therefore was protected from the mass slaughter inflicted on these majestic animals by the 19th-century whalers and the earlier pirates and buccaneers. Another interesting fact is that the Alcedo giant tortoise race was isolated from southern Isabela by the inhospitable lava flows of the Perry Isthmus. This huge amount of sharp lava covers an extensive area and prevented the influx of feral goats to the volcano for a long period of time. Pirates introduced these mammals to Isabela just some centuries ago. In recent years, unfortunately, feral goats slowly but steadily have succeeded in crossing this natural barrier. Feral goats have become a serious threat to the once isolated Alcedo giant tortoises. They are quickly destroying what was once a tortoise paradise: they damage the habitat by devastating the vegetation and overcompeting with the reptiles in the search for food. In addition, due to a total lack of enemies, feral goats multiply in astronomical numbers. Due to this alarming turn of events, some years ago a big campaign to save Alcedo was started by an initiative of the Charles Darwin Research Station together with the Galapagos National Park Service. In the last years we have been informed that the number of goats is declining, therefore the eradication campaign has been successful. It is estimated that in the near future, probably faster than we expected, the feral goats will be totally eradicated from Alcedo. New advances in technology and communication are providing little by little a brighter future for the inspiring and splendorous Alcedo giant tortoises. Titanic conservation efforts are currently taken place. Our passion for the natural world must result in a continuous drive to support them. One day these gigantic reptiles will be once again enjoy their natural habitat as they did in the past. One day the tortoise dynasty will be restored, and the tortoise will reign once more on Alcedo.
It is very impressive to be around giant tortoises in the wild. It was no less impressive the fact that these famous reptiles shared their world with us today. Like real old-time explorers we disembarked on a black volcanic beach in the remote location known as “Urvina Bay.” We followed a trail that led us away from the coastline. Our adventure had just started. Enormous land iguanas were everywhere; some were close to their burrows. We were not only fascinated with the land iguana’s majesty but with the beautiful bright color some big males were displaying. The iguanas were wonderful and made the trip worthwhile, but something amazing was still waiting us. After an exciting search we finally found a giant tortoise under a tree. The giant creature was totally unconcerned about our presence. Minutes later another one was spotted. Why we all were so excited watching these giant reptiles? Let me tell you a wonderful conservation story.
Urvina Bay is located around Alcedo Volcano. This volcano holds one of the most numerous populations of giant tortoises in the archipelago. It is estimated that no less than seven thousand of them still roam free there in the wild. On Alcedo volcano the population of giant tortoises was the most intact and primeval in the entire archipelago. The volcano is one of the most difficult ones to reach from the coast and therefore was protected from the mass slaughter inflicted on these majestic animals by the 19th-century whalers and the earlier pirates and buccaneers. Another interesting fact is that the Alcedo giant tortoise race was isolated from southern Isabela by the inhospitable lava flows of the Perry Isthmus. This huge amount of sharp lava covers an extensive area and prevented the influx of feral goats to the volcano for a long period of time. Pirates introduced these mammals to Isabela just some centuries ago. In recent years, unfortunately, feral goats slowly but steadily have succeeded in crossing this natural barrier. Feral goats have become a serious threat to the once isolated Alcedo giant tortoises. They are quickly destroying what was once a tortoise paradise: they damage the habitat by devastating the vegetation and overcompeting with the reptiles in the search for food. In addition, due to a total lack of enemies, feral goats multiply in astronomical numbers. Due to this alarming turn of events, some years ago a big campaign to save Alcedo was started by an initiative of the Charles Darwin Research Station together with the Galapagos National Park Service. In the last years we have been informed that the number of goats is declining, therefore the eradication campaign has been successful. It is estimated that in the near future, probably faster than we expected, the feral goats will be totally eradicated from Alcedo. New advances in technology and communication are providing little by little a brighter future for the inspiring and splendorous Alcedo giant tortoises. Titanic conservation efforts are currently taken place. Our passion for the natural world must result in a continuous drive to support them. One day these gigantic reptiles will be once again enjoy their natural habitat as they did in the past. One day the tortoise dynasty will be restored, and the tortoise will reign once more on Alcedo.
