Santa Cruz Island
The day broke on Santa Cruz Island with a misty morning waiting for us. The soft, fine and almost imperceptible rain that was gently falling is known locally as “garua.” The garua just added a halo of magic and mysticism to our full day with the giants of this remote archipelago, the world famous Galápagos giant tortoises.
We spent the morning visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS). This institution was recently awarded by the Ecuadorian Government in recognition of the fabulous and titanic efforts of the Station in helping to conserve the Galápagos for future generations. Research, Education and Conservation are key activities that have been employed widely to achieve successful triumphs for the well being of the archipelago. Giant tortoises are the emblem of the Galápagos; these antediluvian-looking reptiles have put Ecuador on the map. One of the most succesful programs that the CDRS together with the Galápagos National Park have been working on, is the one dedicated to the incubation, rearing and later repatriation of giant tortoises. In the picture of today you can see one of the little critters that was born in the Station. Its size at the moment is a little bit bigger than a doughnut. If the baby reaches adulthood it will weigh not less than three hundred pounds, its huge characteristic size. The restoration of the dynasty of the Giant tortoises on the archipelago will assure a brighter future for these animals that unfortunately were exploited in the past centuries at alarming rates. A golden era is the one which these reptiles are living now, an era where all the efforts you can imagine are being made to help them. What an inspiring situation!
The day broke on Santa Cruz Island with a misty morning waiting for us. The soft, fine and almost imperceptible rain that was gently falling is known locally as “garua.” The garua just added a halo of magic and mysticism to our full day with the giants of this remote archipelago, the world famous Galápagos giant tortoises.
We spent the morning visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS). This institution was recently awarded by the Ecuadorian Government in recognition of the fabulous and titanic efforts of the Station in helping to conserve the Galápagos for future generations. Research, Education and Conservation are key activities that have been employed widely to achieve successful triumphs for the well being of the archipelago. Giant tortoises are the emblem of the Galápagos; these antediluvian-looking reptiles have put Ecuador on the map. One of the most succesful programs that the CDRS together with the Galápagos National Park have been working on, is the one dedicated to the incubation, rearing and later repatriation of giant tortoises. In the picture of today you can see one of the little critters that was born in the Station. Its size at the moment is a little bit bigger than a doughnut. If the baby reaches adulthood it will weigh not less than three hundred pounds, its huge characteristic size. The restoration of the dynasty of the Giant tortoises on the archipelago will assure a brighter future for these animals that unfortunately were exploited in the past centuries at alarming rates. A golden era is the one which these reptiles are living now, an era where all the efforts you can imagine are being made to help them. What an inspiring situation!
