More Giant Tortoises

Kira as a tortoise

Giant Tortoises on Highlands, Santa Cruz

Some of the giant tortoises we saw on a farm adjacent to National Park

An attempt to show size

Our excellent naturalist

Charles Darwin Station

Look how tall the cactus is

Giant cactus

Tiny baby giant tortoise

Older baby giant tortoise

Identifier on back

Linda with several tortoises in background

More older tortoises

Still more

The tortoises are kept at Charles Darwin Station until they are about

three years old. They need to be large enough that the Galapagos hawk

cannot kill and eat them. The older tortoises are there for people who

 do not get to see them in the wild.

Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz

August 3 2013

 "Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos

and home to Puerto Ayora (the largest town in the islands.)

In 1959, the Ecuadorian government declared all the islands,

except areas already colonized, as a national park. In the

same year, the Charles Darwin Foundation was established

to promote scientific research and ensure the conservation of

the Galapagos. In 1992 the waters surrounding the Galapagos

were declared a marine reserve."

This morning we visited the Charles Darwin Station with

the giant tortoise breeding center. The breeding center was

established because the giant tortoise population had  diminished

almost to extinction.

It has been successful and they are now repatriating the islands

with their native tortoises. Each island's tortoise is unique to that

island so they had to put males and females from same island

together.

Two males and 12 females were brought from the island of Isabella.

But the males were not getting the job done. So they went looking for

a giant tortoise that had come from that island. In 1905 one was removed

to the San Diego zoo. In the 1970's "Little Diego," was returned to the

Galapagos Charles Darwin Station and put in the corral with the other

tortoises from Isabella. He quickly taught the males what was required

of them. We saw Little Diego. He and his friends have added some

1500 giant tortoises to the population. They think most have been

Little Diego who is well over 100 years old.

They are keeping a few of the giant tortoises at the station because

all visitors are not able to see them in the wild.

We walked back to the pier and I bought too many souvenirs. My

menagerie is growing.

Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island

Naturalist at informal get together

Blue heron in our backyard

Blue heron on Cerro Dragon

Beautiful flamingo

More flamingos

Can't get away from the iguanas

Afternoon Day 5, Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island

Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island

 "Cerro Dragon" or "Dragon Hill" on the northern coast of

Santa Cruz Island, takes its name for the population of land iguanas

living in the area. The site offers a beautiful view of the landscape

from the top of the hill and two small brackish lagoons where

wading virds are sometimes found.“

This afternoon we took a walk along the beach and to a couple of

lagoons. The landing over lava was a bit difficult but the walk was

not too difficult.

We saw a beautiful blue heron, a land iguana and flamingos

in the lagoon.

Conversation with Naturalist

During our lunch break we had an "informal chat"

with David, one of our naturalists. He gave us a lot of

information about the people of the Galapagos.

He and all the naturalists are originally from here.

Some still live here and some have moved to the mainland.

You cannot just move here. If you were born here you and

your family may return. People such as doctors are not local.

Celebrity Cruises has a program where doctors in specialties

come here on the flight with the cruise people come on so people

can be examined without having to go to mainland. I'm not sure

when they return.

The naturalists work for a tourist company who works for

Celebrity. They work 4 weeks, then have 2 weeks off. Those

who still live here get to see their family the days the ship

stops there, so David sees his family every week for a couple

of hours.

They have to get a license as a naturalist for the Galapagos

and another for the specific national park they work. They

have an extensive 3 month training and must take refresher

courses and renew license every two years.