A detour that was not planned led to one the most important discoveries in the history and exploration of science. A Dominican friar Tomas de Berlanga was on a ship en route to Peru when it encountered a calm. The unpredictable currents in the Pacific carried the ship off course. He discovered a group of remote volcanic islands that were unknown to the rest of the world. They are now known as “the Islands of Giant Tortoises” or Galapagos Archipelago. This discovery revealed an amazing ecosystem that has attracted visitors all over the globe for five centuries. It is also a place of scientific research and conservation.
A Chance Encounter that Leads to Conservation Legacy
Berlanga’s letters described a harsh, rugged landscape, with arid soils and scarce freshwater. He also mentioned strange creatures that he had never seen before. Unaware, Berlanga had stumbled upon a living lab of biodiversity where evolution has produced many unique and spectacular species that are found nowhere else in the world.
The archipelago is facing increasing challenges due to climate change, increased tourism and threats to biodiversity. Conservation efforts are more important than ever. The Galapagos Islands are still a symbol of resilience, and they remind us of the importance to protect the last remaining wild places in the world.
Galapagos: A commitment to the future
We are committed to the success of this unique ecosystem at Galapagos Conservancy. We work to protect the Galapagos species and habitats through conservation programmes and environmental educational programs.
We invite you to join us in celebrating the 100th anniversary of this historic find. Every action counts. We can ensure that these islands will remain a symbol for hope, scientific discoveries, and conservation in the future with your help.
©Galápagos Conservancy
The Galapagos Islands are a haven of biodiversity. They contain many species that can be found nowhere else in the world. These animals, from the majestic giant turtles to rare iguanas found on Wolf Volcano have evolved in isolation. In the 10,000 years before humans arrived on the Galapagos, only one new species was naturally found there. Since the discovery of the Galapagos Islands, humans have brought in an average of 1 new species per year.
Galapagos island endemics are extremely vulnerable to invasive species, as they have evolved in isolation and with very few natural predators. They are therefore not well-adapted to withstand new threats. The introduction of these species is a threat to the survival of many native species of wildlife.
Galapagos Conservation recognizes that controlling invasive plants is one of the top conservation priorities in the islands. Since more than a century, we’ve worked closely with Galapagos Biosecurity Agency as well as Galapagos National Park Directorate in order to reduce the impact of invasive plants and animals on the native flora.
Galapagos Islands Threatened by Invasive Species
Invasive species, from goats which have destroyed giant tortoise habitats, to fire ants or feral cats that are destroying native wildlife pose a serious threat to Galapagos’ fragile ecosystems. Prevention, monitoring and control are essential as new threats continue to appear.
Goats (Capra hircus): Ecosystem Destruction
In the 1800s, goats were introduced and multiplied uncontrollably. They stripped native vegetation, reducing food sources for giant tortoises. The impact was so severe on some islands like Pinta or Santiago that entire tortoise population were almost wiped out. The Galapagos National Park Directorate has successfully eradicated goats, and the vegetation is now recovering. This allows tortoises a chance to reclaim its natural habitat.
Fire Ants ( Wasmannia Auropunctata ): the Silent Enemy
The eradication of these tiny, aggressive fireants is notoriously hard. They attack nestling birds and hatchling tortoises. Galapagos Conservancy, in order to address this threat has supported Galapagos Biosecurity Agency’s efforts to reduce fire ant impacts native wildlife.
The Pink Iguana is threatened by feral cats ( Felis Catus).
Wild cats are a threat to many endemic species. This includes the pink iguana, one of the rarest and most endangered reptiles in the world, which is found only at Wolf Volcano. This iguana was discovered in 2009. It is now on the verge of extinction because cats have been introduced and are preying on its young. Galapagos Conservancy has launched focused efforts to protect pink iguanas against cats.
©DPNG
The Invasive Blackberry ( Ruby niveus ): A Growing Problem
The invasive blackberry, originally an agricultural experiment but now a major ecological threat, was introduced as a result of an agricultural experiment. This aggressive plant is destroying native vegetation on multiple islands. Its rapid growth hinders forest regeneration, and reduces food supply for native species. The blackberry also creates a physical obstacle for giant tortoises to move about their habitat. It is crucial to control the spread of blackberry in order to preserve the Galapagos’ unique landscapes.
Galapagos: Our role in protecting it
Galapagos Conservancy, since 2015, has supported the Galapagos Biosecurity Agency, with a focus on prevention, control and eradication. In addition to improving laboratory capabilities, we have also worked on a rapid response for new biosecurity threats. We aim to reduce the impact of invasive plants and animals by strengthening the prevention and control of these species.
The fight against invasive species requires the collaboration of conservation groups, local communities, and scientists.
Galapagos Conservancy plays a critical role in supporting and amplifying conservation efforts. We work with partners to protect native ecosystems by taking the following important actions:
- Funding projects that restore native habitats to species threatened by invasive threats.
- Collaboration with local institutions in order to detect, prevent and control invasive species such as the African giant snail and fire ants.
- By managing habitats in order to reduce the impact of invasive species, we can protect iconic species such as land iguanas and giant tortoises. Research and monitoring will be improved to better understand the impacts of invasive species and to support effective management strategies.
©DPNG
Together, we can make a difference
Galapagos’ future is not certain, but we can make sure that it continues to inspire, and flourish, for future generations, with your help.
Your involvement can protect this unique ecosystem. You can help restore island habitats by joining the fight against invasive weeds.
Join us to protect one of Earth’s last natural wonders.
©Galápagos Conservancy
The school break is a great opportunity for children to learn about nature, explore it, and make connections with it. This will help foster respect and environmental responsibility among future generations. Galapagos Conservancy recognized this and developed ” Tortuamigos – Move and Connect!“, a program that integrates education and fun. The program is more than a fun way to pass the time. It also provides participants with the knowledge they need to conserve one of the most remarkable ecosystems in the world: the Galapagos Islands.
Methodology and Approach
Tortuamigos is based on experiential learning, which ensures that participants learn while actively participating in conservation efforts. Each activity is designed for children to be inspired and strengthened their connection with nature. The program is led by international volunteers and experienced educators. It offers a rich experience that promotes critical thinking, curiosity, and passion for nature.
This program is designed for children and youth in Galapagos. It benefits about 100 participants, strengthening their connection with nature and drawing inspiration and the most iconic species of the archipelago: the giant turtle.
Regular outdoor field trips allow participants to explore their environment, learn the importance of tortoises within the ecosystem and develop conservation practices. The program is run in collaboration with education, the Bellavista Parish Government, the Tomas de Bernlanga Parish government, and Galapagos National Park Directorate to ensure a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach.
Families and the Community Benefit
Tortuamigos offers children a chance to interact meaningfully with the natural world. Parents are also proud to see their children developing a strong awareness of the environment. The program promotes ecological responsibility, strengthens community ties and involves families and educators to protect Galapagos’ natural heritage.
Tortuamigos not only helps young people develop a stronger connection to nature, but also empowers them to become future conservationists. Participants develop their observation skills, problem-solving ability, and teamwork through a variety hands-on activities.
Impact and Future Perspectives
Tortuamigos is envisioned as a catalyst of cultural change that will last beyond the holiday period. Our environmental education program, so far, has increased interest in conservation as well as community participation. The program is a model of environmental education. It integrates interactive workshops with play-based learning in order to engage and inspire children.
We want to continue to refine and expand our program to provide a powerful educational experience. We will use monitoring and evaluating tools to measure and evaluate the impact of our programs and refine our strategies in order to maximize conservation and learning outcomes.
Galapagos Conservancy believes that education can be a powerful tool to protect ecosystems. Tortuamigos helps us shape the next generation conservation leaders. We ensure that they have the knowledge, sensitivity and motivation to protect the archipelago’s natural wonders.
©Galápagos Conservancy
We are Galapagos Conservation and we’re proud to support scientific research, as well as preserve the natural heritage of the archipelago. We contributed three important specimens this week to the Vertebrate Collection of the Charles Darwin Research Station. This collection, which is the largest repository for natural history specimens on the Galapagos Islands with over 135,000 specimens and 7,500 species, houses the most specimens. The zoological collections are an important resource for conserving and studying the rich biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands.
Specimens Contributed
- The Pink Iguana is a Conolophus Marthae. A complete skeleton was found by a Galapagos Conservancy Expedition to Wolf Volcano at the northern end Isabela Island . The holotype, a specimen that is essential to the classification of this critically endangered species and endemic, has not yet been designated. This contribution could become the official pink iguana holotype, marking a milestone in scientific documentation for this newly discovered species.
- “Aplastado Giant Tortoise” ( Chelonoidis Vicina) : The shell of a giant tortoise male was delivered to Cerro Azul Volcano, Southern Isabela Island during a Galapagos Conservancy Expedition. This shell has a flattened morphology that is unique to Cerro Azul tortoises. This shell is unique in that there are no previous records of such a form. Studying this shell will help us better understand the morphological variation among Galapagos tortoises.
- Eastern Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise ( The first adult shell of Chelonoidis Donfaustoi will be added to the Charles Darwin Research Station collection in 2020.
Science and the Future
These specimens will become part of the scientific collections, underlining the importance of physical records in the study and preservation of the unique Galapagos reptiles.
These specimens have a significant impact on our understanding of Galapagos biodiversity and provide new research opportunities. Each specimen contains valuable information on the morphological variations of these key species.
Every contribution that improves the scientific collection strengthens our commitment to conservation. This integration represents not only an important step for research, but also highlights the importance of institution collaboration in protecting Galapagos’ unique species.
©Galápagos Conservancy
The Galapagos Islands are a biodiversity treasure trove, home to unique species found nowhere else on earth, including the iconic giant tortoises. Over three centuries, these majestic creatures were driven to the brink of extinction. Today, they are making a remarkable recovery, thanks in large part to the dedicated efforts of Galapagos Tortoise breeding centers. These centers are the nucleus of one of the most successful endangered species repopulation efforts ever undertaken.
Since the discovery of the Galapagos 500 years ago, the archipelago’s endemic giant tortoises have faced drastic environmental changes, including severe threats to their survival. Unregulated hunting and the introduction of invasive mammals pushed three species into extinction and the populations of most of the remaining 12 species to dangerously low numbers. However, thanks to scientific advances, conservation innovation and the commitment of dedicated institutions and scientists, the Galapagos giant tortoises are getting a second chance.
The first Giant Tortoise breeding center was established in the 1960s as a joint effort between the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) and the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), and quickly became the cornerstone of tortoise recovery efforts.
Today, three breeding centers provide a safe haven where thousands of young turtles grow up under the care of dedicated caretakers until they are large and strong enough to return to their natural habitat. Since their establishment, these centers have successfully reintroduced more than 10,000 tortoises to their native habitats, an effort that is now being carried out through the collaborative work of the GNPD and the Galapagos Conservancy under the Galapagos Program Initiative.
The Crisis That Led to the Creation of Breeding Centers
To understand the vital work being done by the GNPD and Galapagos Conservancy, one must first understand the depth of the crisis that prompted the creation of the breeding centers.
By the 1950s, scientists were sounding the alarm: giant tortoise populations had been devastated by centuries of human exploitation and the spread of invasive species, including goats (Capra hircus), pigs (Sus scrofa), and black rats (Rattus rattus), which posed a variety of threats.
To combat this crisis, the first Giant Tortoise breeding center was established in 1965 on Santa Cruz Island. This was eventually followed by the creation of two additional centers on Isabela and San Cristobal islands.
How Do the Breeding Centers Work?
The breeding centers follow a carefully designed process to maximize hatching success and survival to support population recovery:
- Egg collection and incubation: Eggs are collected from tortoise nests in the wild and transferred to the breeding centers, where they are incubated under controlled conditions, ensuring their safety from predators and harsh environmental conditions.
- Temperature control for sex determination: Scientific research has shown that incubating tortoise eggs at higher temperatures produces more females, thereby accelerating population recovery.
- Safe rearing: Once hatched, the young tortoises remain in the protected environment of the centers for at least five years, the threshold age at which they are strong enough to survive on their own in the wild.
- Release into native habitats: After 5 years, young tortoises are returned to their home islands to grow for another 10 years until they mature and start breeding in the wild on their own.
This program has saved several species from extinction, including the Espanola Island tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis). In the late 1970s, only 14 Espanola tortoises remained in the wild, and another was discovered in captivity in California. Thanks to the concerted efforts of the breeding program, these 15 turtles produced more than 2,000 hatchlings in captivity. All of these have been successfully reintroduced to the Spanish island, where the population is now recovering on its own.
©Galápagos Conservancy
The Science Behind Giant Tortoise Conservation
The conservation of Galapagos giant tortoises depends not only on dedicated human efforts but also on cutting-edge science and technology that guides every stage of their recovery. Over the years, breeding centers have integrated numerous scientific advances, which have significantly improved hatching success rates, captive breeding techniques and survival in the wild.
One groundbreaking innovation was the introduction of automated incubators.
These state-of-the-art systems, equipped with microprocessors, enable precise temperature control and reliable hatching, ensuring optimal conditions for turtle embryo development and survival. Since their implementation in 2017, these incubators have achieved an impressive 90% hatching success rate, a breakthrough in turtle conservation. In the wild, less than 10% of turtle eggs laid hatch. Increasing hatching rates greatly increases the number of turtles and accelerates their recovery.
Scientific research has also played a key role in revealing how temperature influences the sex of hatchlings. Con este conocimiento, los programas de cria han refinado los protocolos de incubacion para favorecer la produccion de hembras, una estrategia crucial para acelerar la recuperacion y asegurar la estabilidad a largo plazo en la naturaleza.
After incubation, hatching, and rearing, successful tortoise reintroduction requires rigorous ecological assessments. Before each release, experts carefully evaluate environmental conditions to determine the optimal habitat and the best window for return, specifically, after the rains have created abundant forage for the young turtles.
Additionally, field studies have been instrumental in identifying the optimal size and age for reintroduction, maximizing survival rates while refining conservation strategies and resource allocation. Continually refining our methods for monitoring tortoise populations in their natural habitat helps measure the success of these efforts. Implementing these methods ensures that every turtle released has the best chance of thriving in the wild, reaffirming the long-term success of population restoration programs.
Sustaining Giant Tortoise Recovery: Challenges and Opportunities
While there has been considerable progress in giant tortoise restoration efforts, significant challenges remain in ensuring their long-term survival.
Invasive species continue to pose a major threat on certain Galapagos islands: black rats and feral pigs raid nests, destroying eggs and hatchlings, severely impacting population recovery; feral dogs prey on juveniles in some locations, and fire ants threaten hatchlings in others; cattle also damage tortoise habitat and nests; some invasive plants, mainly guava and blackberry, alter tortoise habitats, making them impenetrable even to adult tortoises.
Climate change presents an additional risk. Even small temperature fluctuations in nesting sites can disrupt egg development. Unfortunately, these changes also generate more favorable conditions for invasive species. Understanding these environmental changes is essential for developing adaptive conservation strategies to safeguard turtle populations.
©Galápagos Conservancy