Santa Cruz Island
From the ship, early in the morning, I contemplated the dense vegetation of Santa Cruz Island. We anchored in Academy Bay, to the south of the island. If we remember that the prevailing trade winds are the south-easterlies, it is easy to imagine why this side of the island is so lush and fertile. It is in the highlands of Santa Cruz that my parents have a cattle ranch, and it is in the highlands this afternoon that we will look for giant tortoises, and terrestrial birds as well.
But there were tortoises in the morning as well. We visited the Charles Darwin Research Station where we learned about the many and good conservation programs the National Park Service and Charles Darwin Research Station have undertaken together, and where we saw with our own eyes some of the tortoises that have made history. One of them is Lonesome George, a male from Pinta Island, unfortunately the last one of his kind. There is another famous male too, but from Española Island, known as Super Diego, who is one of the successful fathers of more than 1500 baby tortoises that have been already repatriated to Española.
There was so much to see, so much to do. We enjoyed strolls through town as well, which for me is always rewarding, as I got the chance to visit my family. It was so good to be back to my home island!
From the ship, early in the morning, I contemplated the dense vegetation of Santa Cruz Island. We anchored in Academy Bay, to the south of the island. If we remember that the prevailing trade winds are the south-easterlies, it is easy to imagine why this side of the island is so lush and fertile. It is in the highlands of Santa Cruz that my parents have a cattle ranch, and it is in the highlands this afternoon that we will look for giant tortoises, and terrestrial birds as well.
But there were tortoises in the morning as well. We visited the Charles Darwin Research Station where we learned about the many and good conservation programs the National Park Service and Charles Darwin Research Station have undertaken together, and where we saw with our own eyes some of the tortoises that have made history. One of them is Lonesome George, a male from Pinta Island, unfortunately the last one of his kind. There is another famous male too, but from Española Island, known as Super Diego, who is one of the successful fathers of more than 1500 baby tortoises that have been already repatriated to Española.
There was so much to see, so much to do. We enjoyed strolls through town as well, which for me is always rewarding, as I got the chance to visit my family. It was so good to be back to my home island!
