Ecuador Limits a 2-Legged Species to Protect Galápagos

By SIMON ROMERO

Published: October 4, 2009 Go To Source…nytimes.com

Ruth Fremson/The New York Times Migrants from the mainland have put pressure on the wildlife of the Galápagos.

PUERTO AYORA, Galápagos Islands — The mounds of reeking garbage on the edge of this settlement 600 miles off Ecuador’s Pacific coast are proof that one species is thriving on the fragile archipelago whose unique wildlife inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution: man.

The New York Times The booming human population of the archipelago, which doubled to about 30,000 in the last decade, has unnerved environmentalists.

Tiny gray finches, descendants of birds that were crucial to his thesis, flutter around the dump, which serves a growing town of Ecuadoreans who have moved here to work in the islands’ thriving tourism industry.

The burgeoning human population of the Galápagos, which doubled to about 30,000 in the last decade, has unnerved environmentalists. They point to evidence that the growth is already harming the ecosystem that allowed the islands’ more famous inhabitants — among them giant tortoises and boobies with brightly colored webbed feet — to evolve in isolation before mainlanders started colonizing the islands more than a century ago.

The growth has become enough of a threat to the environment that even the government, which still welcomes growth in the tourism industry, has expelled more than 1,000 poor Ecuadoreans in the past year from a province that they feel is rightfully theirs, and it is in the process of expelling many more.

By limiting the population, officials hope to preserve the natural wonders that bolster one of Ecuador’s most profitable sectors: tourism. But the measures are feeding a backlash among unskilled migrants who say they are being punished while the country continues to enjoy the many millions of dollars tourists bring to Ecuador, one of South America’s poorest nations.

“We are being told that a tortoise for a rich foreigner to photograph is worth more than an Ecuadorean citizen,” said María Mariana de Reina Bustos, 54, a migrant from Ambato in Ecuador’s central Andean valley, whose 22-year-old daughter, Olga, was recently rounded up by the police near the slum of La Cascada and put on a plane to the mainland.

Galapagos – Kicker Rock & More…

Sunrise on Kicker Rock from the boat, on our last morning on the Galapagos archipelago. We kayaked and snorkeled around the cliffs (saw some sharks, too), and of course, all I could think of was how many great rock climbing routes were waiting to be explored...

A bit messier than fork and knife, but also more efficient...

More Great Pictures…Go To Source…aperturefirst.org

Third Phase of the K9 Project in the Galapagos Completed

The construction of the dog kennel on Isabela Island has been completed and the guides and dogs have been transported to the island. The dogs will commence their inspection on Isabela, which has the highest level of poaching in the Galapagos, in an effort to reduce crime there.

Construction on Isabela on the day it was completed

Construction had been delayed due to lack of funds for months and would still be on hold if it weren’t for the incredible efforts of Sea Shepherd volunteers from Fremantle, Australia.

Construction had been delayed due to lack of funds for months and would still be on hold if it weren’t for the incredible efforts of Sea Shepherd volunteers from Fremantle, Australia.

For months they have been organizing extra fundraising events specifically aimed to raise the money for the construction.

he Fremantle group from left to right: Leith, Craig, Paul, Louis, Shaun, Jasmin plus Brandy the Dog

The Fremantle group from left to right: Brita, Michael, and Jess

Read More…Go To Source…worldzootoday.com

How to Protect the Galapagos Islands

By Emme West

The Galapagos Islands are astounding, unique, fascinating and relatively untouched by humans. As a marine reserve and a national park, the Galapagos have many restrictions in place to safeguard the islands – so if you plan a visit, keep in mind the rules and laws of the islands.

The Galapagos Islands are astounding, unique, fascinating and relatively untouched by humans. As a marine reserve and a national park, the Galapagos have many restrictions in place to safeguard the islands – so if you plan a visit, keep in mind the rules and laws of the islands.

Before you Visit

Luggage – Do not plan on bringing a lot of luggage with you to the Galapagos. Most flights do not accept more than 44 pounds (20 kilos) of baggage.

Passports – Galapagos requires that travelers carry their passport to the islands and the passport number must be furnished one month prior to arrival.

Entrance Fee – A $100 per person fee must be paid upon arrival at the Galapagos airport. This rate is can sometimes change.

On the Island

Once on the Galapagos Islands, the serene calmness and beauty of the islands becomes apparent. While the islands’ species are not immune from the effects of humans, the Galapagos give a true glimpse of nature at its purist. Much credit for this can be given to the Ecuadorian Government that passed the first laws to protect the islands animals, plants, and insects over 75 years ago. Today, many laws and rules are in place to preserve the island’s splendor.

Take Pictures, Not Souvenirs – As tempting as it is to bring part of the island home with you, it is best to settle for photos. Island ecology experts stress that you should not buy or take home souvenirs such as turtle shells, sea lion teeth and black coral. While the trade of some objects is not strictly illegal, it can be very disruptive to the islands ecological conditions.

No Touching Animals – Sure they are cute, cuddly and the sea lions seem to call to you, but it is not a good idea to touch the animals. Sea lion pups are sometimes abandoned if they have the scent of a human on them.

Don’t Leave the Trails – This is for your safety as much as it is for the protection of the Islands. Visitors must stay on trails that are marked with black and white posts. Wondering off the trail can, for instance, result in the destruction of marine iguana nests, which are buried beneath the sand.

No Traveling On Your Own – Visitors to the National Park are required to be accompanied by a qualified guide. Traveling on your own is forbidden.

No Littering – All disposals must be removed from the islands as it can harm or kill some species. Plastic bags have been known to suffocate sea turtles.

Following these easy rules will ensure that the Galapagos Islands are preserved and protected.

Galapagos Survivor

By Jim Eagles

A giant tortoise taking a nap. Photo / Jim Eagles

There’s good news and bad news on the subject of Lonesome George, the last surviving giant tortoise from the Galapagos island of Pinta and described by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “rarest living creature”.

First the good news. I saw Lonesome George the other day and there’s no reason for him to be lonely any more.

These days he shares his leafy enclosure at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz island with two nice lady giant tortoises, with whom he apparently gets on fairly well, despite the fact that they’re a different sub-species found only on Isabela island.

Unfortunately, the day I came calling George seemed to be in a bit of a huff. He was lying on the far side of his spacious quarters, alongside a stone wall, with his back to the viewing area.

His lady friends were out and about, eating leaves and posing for visitors, but George didn’t stir. I tried to pass on greetings from a colleague whose nickname, for reasons obscure to me, is also Lonesome George, but he ignored my efforts.

Read More…Go To Source…nzherald.co.nz

Galapagos in danger…(well written and so true…RHT)

By John Herzfeld…Go To Source…

John Herzfeld, a teacher at Louisville Collegiate School, returned in December from studying in the Galpagos

I was snorkeling in 15 feet of cool ocean water, pursuing a parrotfish, when instinct made me turn my head. Three sea lions were torpedoing toward my face.

First, I was afraid; then, I was thrilled. These creatures wanted to play. Two became bored quickly, but one young female darted under me, blowing bubbles. I did the same to her. She swam around me, over me, and under me. I copied her moves, but without the grace. We danced this zero-gravity pas de deux for about 10 minutes.

I’m not alone in my jaw-dropping awe of the Galápagos Islands. Many tourists — about 160,000 in 2008 — visit this remote archipelago 600 miles off Ecuador’s coast. Jaded travelers become wide-eyed children again when they see animals close enough to touch.

A Hood mockingbird perched on one traveler’s shoe. A giant tortoise paused on a path to let hikers through. Indifferent iguanas returned our stares, and waved albatrosses performed their courtship dances unashamed as cameras clicked. Under the equatorial sun, colors are brighter, and nature has a rare richness and intensity. I thought I was in paradise.

I was wrong. Any human presence in the islands creates pressures on the environment. The very traits that make the Galápagos so unique could be the islands’ undoing. Tourists arrive seeking Eden; mainland Ecuadorians arrive to stake a claim in the tourism industry. About 30,000 people live on the islands now.

Guardaparques rescatan pasajeros de embarcación siniestrada en Galápagos

La nave se accidentó la madrugada de hoy, con 22 personas a bordo, las cuales fueron rescatadas por la lancha patrullera Guadalupe River.

Imagen del yate siniestrado. Foto:Cortesía Parque Nacional Galápagos

La embarcación turística Cormorant II, de tipo catamarán, con matrícula TN-01-00-226, sufrió una avería en sus máquinas, mientras navegaba cerca a Punta Flores, en el norte de isla Isabela, con 14 pasajeros y 8 tripulantes. Así lo  informaron los tripulantes.

La lancha patrullera Guadalupe River, dotación del Parque Nacional Galápagos, que realizaba relevo del personal de control en la base de Canal Bolívar, en Isabela,  recibió una llamada de auxilio por parte de la nave siniestrada, aproximadamente a las 02:30 de hoy.

Los guardaparques acudieron inmediatamente hasta el sitio y rescataron con éxito a todos los pasajeros y tripulantes,  pero el fuerte oleaje que azota el archipiélago en los últimos días, destruyó totalmente al catamarán y con ello se perdieron todos los enseres, documentos y equipaje que la nave tenía en su interior.

En la Guadalupe River, los guardaparques  brindaron los primeros auxilios a varios pasajeros que presentaron traumatismos leves. Todo el personal rescatado está siendo trasladado hasta el Canal de Itabaca, en Santa Cruz, donde serán recibidos por el operador turístico de la embarcación siniestrada.

Una dotación de la Parque Nacional Galápagos realizará una evaluación  de los posibles daños ambientales, puesto que al momento del accidente, el catamarán contaba con 1 000 galones de combustible en sus tanques de almacenamiento, para que el operador de la nave siniestrada, Ángel Gustavo Villacís, para ejecutar las garantías correspondientes y realicen las medidas de mitigación.

Go To Source…Elcomercio.com

First Darwin, now global warming reaches Galapagos

By Eduardo Garcia

GALAPAGOS, Ecuador (Reuters) – Climate change could endanger the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, and scientists are trying to figure out how to protect vulnerable species such as blue-footed boobies and Galapagos Penguins.

Some 175 years after the wildlife of the Galapagos helped inspire Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution, scientists are measuring the impact of global warming on the rich but fragile biodiversity of the islands.

The volcanic archipelago, about 600 miles west of the Ecuadorean coast, is home to scores of endemic species that closely depend on one another for survival.

Scientists say abrupt and frequent changes in sea temperatures and the death of coral reefs near the islands show that global warming is taking its toll on local sea life.

“The coral reefs create a habitat; they are like a forest, like the Amazon. They are home to scores of species. … If the corals die we lose thousands of species that are associated to the coral,” said German marine biologist Judith Denkinger.

The Galapagos-based scientist said the harm that pollution and climate change are causing marine life could trigger a domino effect and hurt on-shore species as well.

“Everything is intertwined. You can’t say this is land, this is sea, they are both one,” Denkinger said, sitting on a rock by the sea and surrounded by growling sea lions.

According to the United Nations, global warming is to blame for the melting of ice caps, rising sea levels and wacky weather worldwide, including storms, droughts and floods.

The United Nations says that between 20 percent and 30 percent of plant and animal species worldwide are likely to face an increased risk of extinction due to warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

Islands are particularly vulnerable to climate change, experts say.

Gabriel Lopez, executive director of the Galapagos-based Charles Darwin Foundation, said the islands have a very fragile ecosystem. Lopez expressed concern that global warming “will have very strong impacts on sea lions — due to the lack of food available to them — on penguins, and on marine iguanas.”

Galapagos – Erupting Volcanoes on Earth as Seen From Space

This image of the Sierra Negra volcano in the Galapagos Islands was taken by NASA’s Terra satellite in 2006. Sierra Negra is a shield volcano, which are made mostly of previous lava flows and tend to be broad and gently sloping. The Galapagos are part of an island chain formed by a hot spot where a plume of hot mantle rises up and melts the base of the ocean crust. As the Pacific plate moves over the relatively stationary hot spot, volcanoes are formed. The Hawaiian Islands were formed — and continue forming — the same way.

For More Amazing Photos….Go To Source… Uniquescoop.com

Galapagos – At home or afar, art is learning

by Elysia Conner
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 5:03 PM MDT

For Mathisen, who loves to depict animals, it was a great opportunity. Colorful birds and reptiles were a joy for her to see during the journey and inspired many paintings.

With a focus on interesting shapes and darks and lights, the retired dentist sees the world in new ways since having more time to spend painting.

“Painting teaches you to be a keener observer and you really do start paying attention to things you missed before,” she said.

Read More…Go To Source…Casperjournal.com