The introduced mosquito was first identified in Galapagos in 2001. It is a vector for diseases like Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Marilyn Cruz, the Executive Director of ABG explained that the project will eliminate the use of insecticides, chemicals, and other pesticides that are commonly used to kill mosquitoes. It also aims to eliminate the problem from the Islands in the long-term.
Six years of research have led to the application of the sterile insect technique for the first time in Ecuador. Experts took mosquito larvae from Galapagos colonies and sterilized them in a laboratory located on Ecuador’s mainland.
These sterile male mosquitoes can be released in Galapagos and mate with wild females. They will eventually extirpate, producing no offspring, and ultimately leading to their eradication. This method is completely eco-friendly, since it doesn’t require chemicals and only impacts the species.
Washington Tapia (General Director of Galapagos Conservancy) and Conservando Galapagos (Partner) congratulated ABG for their continued efforts to protect community and environmental health. He emphasized that “We reaffirm and continue to contribute to the fight against invasive species and to prevent more species from entering the Archipelago.”
10,000 sterile male mosquitoes released in Santa Cruz Island © GNPD
Today is an important date for Galapagos, and the entire world. The Galapagos Islands were discovered officially by Dominican friar Tomas de Berlanga on March 10, 1535. He was sailing from Panama, Peru, when strong ocean currents caused his ship to drift off course to the enchanted Islands.
Berlanga was the first person to provide official descriptions of Galapagos Islands. This is why Berlanga is known as the “Discoverer” and a pioneer in the union of the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Berlanga’s discovery of the Pacific Ocean’s last uninhabited islands was a major turning point in his life. Berlanga wrote to the Spanish king in a later letter. He said that it seemed as if God had rained down stones on Earth. Fortunately, Berlanga and his crew discovered water amid the volcanic terrain and inhospitable conditions at the Galapagos Islands. This is the name Spanish sailors used for the Archipelago. They were greeted by a large number of Giant Tortoises, which reminded them of an old saddle that was called a in Spain. Later, the Archipelago of Columbus would be named for these islands.
Patrick Watkins was the first permanent resident to the Galapagos Islands. He was an Irish sailor and was marooned on Floreana island between 1807-1809. Later, Watkins told of how he survived by hunting and growing vegetables before sailing to Guayaquil in an escaped boat.
According to 2015’s last census, 25,244 people live in the Galapagos Islands. This Archipelago is home to approximately 30,000 people. It has many unique ecosystems that support a wide range of animals and plants.
Galapagos Conservancy wishes Galapagos a happy 488th anniversary. This was the date that this natural wonder was discovered. We are deeply committed and will continue to work to preserve the Islands’ wildlife and ensure the wellbeing of its inhabitants.
In 2001, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized GMR’s immense ecological, cultural and economic value, and designated it as a Natural World Heritage Site.
The GMR is located approximately 1,000 km from Ecuador’s continental coast and covers an area around 198,000 square kilometers. This includes the 60,000-square-kilometer expansion of the new Hermandad Marine Reserve, created on February 14, 2022, to conserve areas of critical ocean ecosystems, migratory routes, and feeding grounds for threatened marine species.
For the survival of Galapagos ecosystems, it is essential to protect marine and coastal habitats. Many species, both endemic and native, depend on the sea. Ecological processes that occur on land are also directly connected to the sea.
Marine reserves are used to stop human impacts and enable the recovery of exploited species. They are managed using special legislation that ensures the wellbeing of the ecosystems as well as the prosperity of mankind.
Galapagos Conservancy is aware that the GMR is one the most biodiverse regions in the world, and is home to many endangered species. We will continue scientific research and take conservation actions to protect the fauna and flora of the reserve. We extend our appreciation and support to the Galapagos National Park Directorate in its continued efforts to care for GMR.
Dolphins in the GMR © Joshua Vela