Santa Cruz Island
Today we explored the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and the port town of Puerto Ayora. Our visit began at the Charles Darwin Research Station where we learned about, and saw firsthand, some of the efforts, successes, and challenges of the research and conservation conducted here. We watched Galápagos tortoises up close as they finished their meal.
Around the corner from some of the tortoises in the successful captive breeding program for Española Island awaited Lonesome George, from Pinta Island, and the last of his subspecies. As Lonesome George basked in the sun, we learned about the many efforts that have been made in the last 34 years to help George produce offspring, to no avail. George’s story is a sad one, but only a few feet away, there were some of the products of the breeding program. Baby tortoises were held in protected corrals, marked with numbers to identify them and the island on which they will be released once they are older. It was an educational morning and a great primer for seeing tortoises in the wild during the afternoon.
After an opportunity to walk around Puerto Ayora to see some of the local culture and shop, we were treated to a wonderful lunch of grilled chicken in the highlands outside of town.
The afternoon held many treats for us. We visited two pit craters where we saw some of the endemic vegetation including a Scalesia penduculata forest and saw the Vermillion flycatcher, among other birds. It was a treat to see many wild tortoises during our visit to a part of their migration pattern. Several dozen tortoises were scattered about the lush hilly landscape. We were able to spend time one-on-one with one of these magnificent animals or wander around to encounter multiple tortoises.
Roz Cameron from the Charles Darwin Research Station visited us on board during the daily recap to tell us about issues facing the Galápagos Islands today, as well as current conservation efforts and hopes for the future of the islands. After dinner, local musicians and dancers entertained us and were a perfect ending to another busy day aboard the National Geographic Polaris.
Today we explored the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and the port town of Puerto Ayora. Our visit began at the Charles Darwin Research Station where we learned about, and saw firsthand, some of the efforts, successes, and challenges of the research and conservation conducted here. We watched Galápagos tortoises up close as they finished their meal.
Around the corner from some of the tortoises in the successful captive breeding program for Española Island awaited Lonesome George, from Pinta Island, and the last of his subspecies. As Lonesome George basked in the sun, we learned about the many efforts that have been made in the last 34 years to help George produce offspring, to no avail. George’s story is a sad one, but only a few feet away, there were some of the products of the breeding program. Baby tortoises were held in protected corrals, marked with numbers to identify them and the island on which they will be released once they are older. It was an educational morning and a great primer for seeing tortoises in the wild during the afternoon.
After an opportunity to walk around Puerto Ayora to see some of the local culture and shop, we were treated to a wonderful lunch of grilled chicken in the highlands outside of town.
The afternoon held many treats for us. We visited two pit craters where we saw some of the endemic vegetation including a Scalesia penduculata forest and saw the Vermillion flycatcher, among other birds. It was a treat to see many wild tortoises during our visit to a part of their migration pattern. Several dozen tortoises were scattered about the lush hilly landscape. We were able to spend time one-on-one with one of these magnificent animals or wander around to encounter multiple tortoises.
Roz Cameron from the Charles Darwin Research Station visited us on board during the daily recap to tell us about issues facing the Galápagos Islands today, as well as current conservation efforts and hopes for the future of the islands. After dinner, local musicians and dancers entertained us and were a perfect ending to another busy day aboard the National Geographic Polaris.
