Santa Cruz Island
Today in the morning we visited the world famous Charles Darwin Research Station. One of the main attractions in this institution is the breeding center dedicated to the fabulous Galápagos giant tortoises. The breeding program has been a real success in the world of conservation, having repatriated so far around 3000 tortoises back to the islands where they belong to. The center is opened to the general public due to the high interest our visitors show about the giant tortoises. There is an area dedicated exclusively to the tiny baby tortoises, they live inside small pens. Once the baby tortoises are two years old they are moved to the adaptation corral. Lonesome George, a very important giant tortoise that lives in its own area together with a couple of females, is perhaps one the best known individuals. George is unfortunately the very last survivor of his kind. All our visitors enjoyed very much the experience of being in such contact with these majestic creatures, their history and the titanic efforts to save them from extinction.
Later in the afternoon we went to the highlands of Santa Cruz in the search for the giant tortoises in the wild. We were quite successful for we found many of them. In addition to the thrill to see these reptiles in their natural habitat we found the bright colored vermillion flycatcher. This bird is by far the most beautiful little one that inhabits the archipelago. At the evening, a local band came onboard ending with joy this day that has been filled with great sightings and memories.
Today in the morning we visited the world famous Charles Darwin Research Station. One of the main attractions in this institution is the breeding center dedicated to the fabulous Galápagos giant tortoises. The breeding program has been a real success in the world of conservation, having repatriated so far around 3000 tortoises back to the islands where they belong to. The center is opened to the general public due to the high interest our visitors show about the giant tortoises. There is an area dedicated exclusively to the tiny baby tortoises, they live inside small pens. Once the baby tortoises are two years old they are moved to the adaptation corral. Lonesome George, a very important giant tortoise that lives in its own area together with a couple of females, is perhaps one the best known individuals. George is unfortunately the very last survivor of his kind. All our visitors enjoyed very much the experience of being in such contact with these majestic creatures, their history and the titanic efforts to save them from extinction.
Later in the afternoon we went to the highlands of Santa Cruz in the search for the giant tortoises in the wild. We were quite successful for we found many of them. In addition to the thrill to see these reptiles in their natural habitat we found the bright colored vermillion flycatcher. This bird is by far the most beautiful little one that inhabits the archipelago. At the evening, a local band came onboard ending with joy this day that has been filled with great sightings and memories.
