Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island is the capital of research in the Galápagos, and today we had the opportunity of visiting the head quarters of the Charles Darwin Research Station and National Park. Last night we gave a ride to a couple of scientists who are studying the rarest species of finch, the mangrove finch. So we had with us two of the people who help in the increasing of knowledge about these islands. We also have different programs for the protection and restoration of this archipelago. One of the main goals is the Land tortoises breeding program. The personnel of the Darwin Station have repatriated already more than five thousand baby tortoises.
One of the most successful islands is Española Island, that from the number of fourteen adults, twelve females and two males, nowadays has around two thousand tortoises older than five years old.
This program took about thirty years, because the Galápagos tortoises only lay from eight to twelve eggs per year and their sexual maturity is reached when they are around thirty years old. This was a real challenge!
In the afternoon we explored the highlands where we could appreciate these prehistoric reptiles in the wild. Some were so huge that our guests estimated their weight to be six hundred pounds. I think a creature with such a weight must be at least a couple of hundred years old, amazing! We came back on board to rest and enjoy the sun set in front of Puerto Ayora town.
Santa Cruz Island is the capital of research in the Galápagos, and today we had the opportunity of visiting the head quarters of the Charles Darwin Research Station and National Park. Last night we gave a ride to a couple of scientists who are studying the rarest species of finch, the mangrove finch. So we had with us two of the people who help in the increasing of knowledge about these islands. We also have different programs for the protection and restoration of this archipelago. One of the main goals is the Land tortoises breeding program. The personnel of the Darwin Station have repatriated already more than five thousand baby tortoises.
One of the most successful islands is Española Island, that from the number of fourteen adults, twelve females and two males, nowadays has around two thousand tortoises older than five years old.
This program took about thirty years, because the Galápagos tortoises only lay from eight to twelve eggs per year and their sexual maturity is reached when they are around thirty years old. This was a real challenge!
In the afternoon we explored the highlands where we could appreciate these prehistoric reptiles in the wild. Some were so huge that our guests estimated their weight to be six hundred pounds. I think a creature with such a weight must be at least a couple of hundred years old, amazing! We came back on board to rest and enjoy the sun set in front of Puerto Ayora town.
