Santa Cruz Island
Today, we visited one of the four inhabited islands of the Galápagos. Puerto Ayora is not the capital, but it is the most populated village of the archipelago. The people live basically from tourism, fishing, and farming. In the morning, we had the opportunity to appreciate the conservation efforts of the National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station. There are several programs running, like the captive rearing center set up to recover populations of giant tortoises that were close to extinction. Due to human activity in the past, they were taken in ships by pirates and whalers as a food source. Additionally, we met Lonesome George, the last individual from Pinta Island. He is in a pen with two females from Wolf Volcano as companions. We could observe the difference between saddle-backed and dome shape-type tortoises.
In the afternoon, our perspective of the island changed once we reached the highlands. There are people living in farms where vegetables and fruits for local consumption are being cultivated; lumber is another activity, and cattle is being raised, too. Nevertheless, it was unreal to walk on an area where giant tortoises, with their pre-historical looking faces, live as well. For them there is no difference between a farm and the migratory route they have used for hundred of years to go higher up on the island to find food. It was slightly misty and cloudy. Jane Goodall and Steven Spielberg could have worked together for the scenery. The picture was a combination between “Gorillas in the Mist” and “Jurassic Park.” Surprisingly, a curious and pretty vermillion flycatcher stood on a pole in front of us and posed. We had a great day in civilization. Dora Ulloa, Naturalist
Today, we visited one of the four inhabited islands of the Galápagos. Puerto Ayora is not the capital, but it is the most populated village of the archipelago. The people live basically from tourism, fishing, and farming. In the morning, we had the opportunity to appreciate the conservation efforts of the National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station. There are several programs running, like the captive rearing center set up to recover populations of giant tortoises that were close to extinction. Due to human activity in the past, they were taken in ships by pirates and whalers as a food source. Additionally, we met Lonesome George, the last individual from Pinta Island. He is in a pen with two females from Wolf Volcano as companions. We could observe the difference between saddle-backed and dome shape-type tortoises.
In the afternoon, our perspective of the island changed once we reached the highlands. There are people living in farms where vegetables and fruits for local consumption are being cultivated; lumber is another activity, and cattle is being raised, too. Nevertheless, it was unreal to walk on an area where giant tortoises, with their pre-historical looking faces, live as well. For them there is no difference between a farm and the migratory route they have used for hundred of years to go higher up on the island to find food. It was slightly misty and cloudy. Jane Goodall and Steven Spielberg could have worked together for the scenery. The picture was a combination between “Gorillas in the Mist” and “Jurassic Park.” Surprisingly, a curious and pretty vermillion flycatcher stood on a pole in front of us and posed. We had a great day in civilization. Dora Ulloa, Naturalist
