Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island & Sombrero Chino Islet
Cerro Dragon is an area located in the north-western corner of Santa Cruz Island, home to many endemic species and a salt-water lagoon that contains shore birds such as the black-necked stilts. This place is hard evidence of the success of the restoration efforts that have been taking place in this National Park. Years ago, the first flourishing town in the Galápagos was founded by Norwegians in the late 1920’s at the southern side of this same island; the town of Puerto Ayora. At that time, conservation was not an issue of importance to people almost anywhere in the world, and the Galápagos was no exception. Cats and dogs came to the island first under control of the human inhabitants, but it wasn’t long before many of these animals went to the wild and became feral. By the mid seventies, the area considered nowadays as “Cerro Dragon” (or Dragon Hill in English), was completely overrun by these destructive animals. The natural population of land iguanas was devastated. Fortunately when the problem was detected, efforts to eradicate the cats and dogs were developed and successfully achieved. Today the population of cats and dogs in the area has been dropped to very low numbers, and recovery of the endemic plants has thrived, as well as the beautiful creatures for which this area was aptly named.
The iguanas are only one example of the excellent work that the National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station had done through the years to maintain a pristine ecosystem in the islands. In the afternoon, we further explore the other half of the National Park: the Galápagos Marine Reserve. As one of the largest marine reserves in the world, after those in Australia, its existence and maintenance is vital to the health of the seas around the Galápagos, and equally so to the slough of land inhabitants who depend on it. Its inhabitants are also a continuous source of delight to us all, especially the curious young sea lion pups that could not contain their curiosity and came to play with the young humans on the beach!
Cerro Dragon is an area located in the north-western corner of Santa Cruz Island, home to many endemic species and a salt-water lagoon that contains shore birds such as the black-necked stilts. This place is hard evidence of the success of the restoration efforts that have been taking place in this National Park. Years ago, the first flourishing town in the Galápagos was founded by Norwegians in the late 1920’s at the southern side of this same island; the town of Puerto Ayora. At that time, conservation was not an issue of importance to people almost anywhere in the world, and the Galápagos was no exception. Cats and dogs came to the island first under control of the human inhabitants, but it wasn’t long before many of these animals went to the wild and became feral. By the mid seventies, the area considered nowadays as “Cerro Dragon” (or Dragon Hill in English), was completely overrun by these destructive animals. The natural population of land iguanas was devastated. Fortunately when the problem was detected, efforts to eradicate the cats and dogs were developed and successfully achieved. Today the population of cats and dogs in the area has been dropped to very low numbers, and recovery of the endemic plants has thrived, as well as the beautiful creatures for which this area was aptly named.
The iguanas are only one example of the excellent work that the National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station had done through the years to maintain a pristine ecosystem in the islands. In the afternoon, we further explore the other half of the National Park: the Galápagos Marine Reserve. As one of the largest marine reserves in the world, after those in Australia, its existence and maintenance is vital to the health of the seas around the Galápagos, and equally so to the slough of land inhabitants who depend on it. Its inhabitants are also a continuous source of delight to us all, especially the curious young sea lion pups that could not contain their curiosity and came to play with the young humans on the beach!
