Santa Cruz Island
Today we arrived at the second largest island in Galápagos, Santa Cruz, located in the middle of the archipelago. Our day began visiting the land tortoise captive breeding facilities in the Charles Darwin Research Station. We observed several baby tortoises in their pens being fed by their caretakers. These babies will be released at the age of 3 to 4 years old onto the islands their ancestors came from.
Another one of the very important programs in this center is the rearing of the endangered Galápagos land iguanas in captivity. The female in the picture had the brilliant colors of the breeding season and was sunbathing inside her corral while two males watched her from a couple of small windows.
Our afternoon was just amazing. Some of our guests went up to the highlands to visit the “Gemelos” or sink holes. Around this amazingly lush area some found the woodpecker finch and the very bright vermillion flycatcher.
After visiting the “Gemelos” we arrived to “Primicias Ranch” which lies right next to the Tortoise Preserve. Some of the tortoises we found here were resting under some trees while others were cooling off in a mud pond. We were greatly surprised with two mating couples. We could hear the sound of the males from far away. Mating may take several hours and is an uncommon event. Everyone felt very lucky observing these giants at work!
Today we arrived at the second largest island in Galápagos, Santa Cruz, located in the middle of the archipelago. Our day began visiting the land tortoise captive breeding facilities in the Charles Darwin Research Station. We observed several baby tortoises in their pens being fed by their caretakers. These babies will be released at the age of 3 to 4 years old onto the islands their ancestors came from.
Another one of the very important programs in this center is the rearing of the endangered Galápagos land iguanas in captivity. The female in the picture had the brilliant colors of the breeding season and was sunbathing inside her corral while two males watched her from a couple of small windows.
Our afternoon was just amazing. Some of our guests went up to the highlands to visit the “Gemelos” or sink holes. Around this amazingly lush area some found the woodpecker finch and the very bright vermillion flycatcher.
After visiting the “Gemelos” we arrived to “Primicias Ranch” which lies right next to the Tortoise Preserve. Some of the tortoises we found here were resting under some trees while others were cooling off in a mud pond. We were greatly surprised with two mating couples. We could hear the sound of the males from far away. Mating may take several hours and is an uncommon event. Everyone felt very lucky observing these giants at work!
