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.