Recent discoveries of Galapagos Petrel nests on Isabela Island have sparked new optimism in the conservation of this critically endangered endemic species. This is a significant step forward in the protection of one of the archipelago’s most iconic seabirds. Their breeding habitat had been under constant threat for many years.
The team, led by experts of Galapagos conservancy along with rangers of Galapagos National Park explored possible nesting sites for petrels on the flanks the Sierra Negra volcano. This included both agricultural and protected areas.
A parte de un proyecto mas grande financiado por la National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) para mejorar los habitats de anidacion de las petrelas de Galapagos, los miembros del equipo buscaron a fondo nuevos sitios de anidacion y tambien exploraron areas donde se habian registrado previamente nidos. El equipo tambien evaluo las amenazas que enfrenta la poblacion de petrelas en la isla. Las petrelas excavan grandes y profundas madrigueras en los densos suelos volcanicos en las partes altas de las islas donde construyen nidos simples en los que ponen sus huevos y crian a sus jovenes. Generalmente estan bien protegidas en sus madrigueras, pero enfrentan amenazas de ratas que comen a los polluelos e incluso a veces a los adultos, perros que excavan los nidos y plantas exoticas que pueden ahogar las madrigueras de anidacion de los petrelas.
Active Nests and Encouragement Signs of Recovery
During their expedition, the team found 11 nests in the National Park. Three of them showed signs of recent activity, such as feathers and droppings. Petrel chicks were also confirmed in several burrows found on local farms, which previously showed signs of activity. This is a major step forward for the recovery of this species. No photographs have been taken of petrel chicks nesting on Isabela Island. This population is genetically different from the four other nesting populations in Galapagos.
Other farms within the agricultural zone also had nests, which were clearly evidence of recent occupancy. These discoveries are vital for expanding our knowledge of the distribution and condition of petrels in Isabela Island.
Domenica Pinda, the leader of the expedition and a researcher at the Galapagos Conservancy, was excited to discover chicks inside the nests. She noted that this discovery gives hope for the recovery of the species. She said that, while there is much more work to do, the results of this expedition confirm we are on track to secure the future for petrels in Isabela Island.
Continued Threats
The presence of invasive animals and plants was one of the main challenges that the team encountered during the expedition. The team found a high concentration of invasive plants in most nesting sites, including guava, blackberry and signs of rats and insects. Nests were difficult to reach in these densely vegetated areas. Nests on local farms that were active were located in open areas. Typically, these nests are in pastures where cattle and horses graze to prevent the invasion of guava or blackberry plants.
Look Ahead
Galapagos Conservancy will continue to monitor nests of petrels and work closely with the Galapagos National Park Directorate in order to implement strategies for controlling invasive species. We will also soon be conducting new expeditions on Isabela Island to explore potential nesting sites. This will help us better understand the behavior and needs of these seabirds.
We reaffirm through these initiatives our unwavering dedication to the conservation and protection of Galapagos Petrels, as well as the ecosystems that are essential for their survival.
Galapagos Conservancy is deeply committed to the preservation of the archipelago’s unique biodiversity. In order to achieve this mission we work closely with the Galapagos National Park Directorate as well as the local community in several key projects that address urgent conservation needs. We visited Isabela Island recently to evaluate the progress and accomplishments of our partnership, as well as strategize the next phases of efforts.
Protecting and restoring the Heart-leaved Scalesia Forests
We visited the Forest Nursery of the Galapagos National Park, which had been fully revitalized. The nursery is now vital in restoring the heartleafed Scalesia forests ( Scalesia Cordata ) on southern Isabela Island. This species only exists in this area. The nursery was revitalized along with a retrofitted housing facility that provides park rangers and scientists a dry, safe place to stay on site for the continuous monitoring and propagation the heart-leafed Scalesia.
The beautiful tree that once covered the southern Isabela Island volcanoes of Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul and other volcanic peaks is almost extinct. The nursery is now filled with heart-leafed Scalesia seeds, a powerful sign of hope for Galapagos’ forests. These plants are growing, which is a clear sign that our restoration efforts have been successful. They promise a brighter tomorrow for the heart-leafed Scalesia, and the unique ecosystem in which it was once a key component.
Tortoise Breeding Center Improvements
Our team visited the Arnaldo Tupaz Chamaidan Tortoise Breeding Center, located in Puerto Villamil. Here giant tortoises were bred to be reintroduced into their natural habitats mainly on southern Isabela Island. We evaluated the performance and efficiency of the Galapagos Conservancy’s state-of the-art incubators for tortoise eggs. These continue to function flawlessly, producing hundreds of hatchlings every year. The center’s infrastructure was also examined, and we identified the need for urgent roof repairs as well as upgrades to its electrical system. The improvements will be funded through our efforts and ensure that the center is a safe, efficient place for the propagation two species of Isabela Island giant tortoises.
Continued Collaboration for Conservation
Galapagos Conservancy, in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park Directorate, has made it possible to undertake projects such as the restoration and breeding of giant tortoises and Scalesia trees. Together, we work to not only protect endangered species, but also to restore the ecosystems that they call home.
Our director, Dr. Washington Tapia emphasizes that “collaboration is crucial for the success our initiatives.” Working closely with the Galapagos National Park Directorate ensures a future in which conservation and human well-being go hand in glove.
We are proud of our collaboration with the park rangers, and we value their support in preserving Galapagos. We rely on donations to continue projects such as those on Isabela. This ensures that our efforts have a direct effect on protecting the fragile natural heritage. Galapagos, with your support, will continue to demonstrate how conservation benefits both nature and communities who depend on it.
More than 380 Galapagos Conservancy teachers received training in person during the 15th Teachers Institute, which took place from September 9th through 13th. The focus of this year’s institute was water and sanitation issues, which are two interrelated and growingly important concerns for island residents. This same group also extended their training by using independent learning and virtual activities. These activities together help teachers be prepared to incorporate water and sanitation into their classroom plans, using creative and innovative strategies and hands-on teaching methods.
Jenny Macias is our education advisor. She highlighted the importance the Teachers Institute. She called it a step towards improving water and sanitation education with an interdisciplinary, well-rounded approach. We want to provide teachers with the tools to help them create a deeper awareness of sustainable water usage. We hope that by using active learning techniques, students will be able to understand the challenges of living in a world with limited water and begin to consider practical solutions at a young age. “It’s about encouraging creativity and an active mindset,” explained she.
Impact on Teachers and Students
This training gave teachers both the practical and theoretical tools they needed to better understand the water management system, the water quality and the most recent innovations in water sanitation. These teachers will also benefit from this knowledge, as well as the over 7,000 Galapagos students. We hope to empower teachers to promote a culture of water conservation and responsible use. This will help secure a sustainable future for Galapagos.
The 15th Teachers Institute has been made possible by a collaboration agreement between Galapagos Conservancy, Ecuador’s Ministry of Education and Scalesia Foundation, Yachay Tech, and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito.The training is part of our ongoing efforts to improve the education system on Galapagos, with an emphasis on sustainability. It reinforces our commitment to protect this fragile and unique ecosystem for future generations.
©Galápagos Conservancy
Galapagos Marine Reserve has a variety of unique species, which not only attracts thousands of tourists each year but are also vital to the health and wellbeing of the marine ecosystem. These species include the Galapagos Sea Lion ( Zalophus wollabaeki ) as well as the Galapagos Fur Seal ( Arctocephalus galapagoensis ). Both are found only on the Galapagos Islands and both are now endangered. Climate change and human activity, especially in areas near urban centres, are threatening these marine mammals.
Galapagos Conservation is committed to supporting efforts in the local community that help protect endangered and iconic species, such as pinnipeds from Galapagos. We support the pinniped research of Marjorie Riofrio, a researcher at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. As part of the initiative, Dr. Riofrio educates local residents on sea lion conservation. She has recently led the creation and publication of a book for children titled “Loberto & Zally: Galapagos Sea Lions” to inspire readers to protect these species.
This story is about two sea lion siblings: Loberto, the playful pup, Zally, the curious older sister. Together, they explore the life of San Cristobal Island – home to the biggest sea lion colony on the archipelago. Together they face the challenges of growing in the Galapagos. They discover their unique environment and learn how to survive.
The book will be distributed to 200 school students on San Cristobal Island. Marjorie hopes that this educational tool will inspire future generations of people to play a role in the conservation efforts for the Galapagos Sea Lion. She explained that the book is not just a simple story, but an educational tool designed to promote scientific inquiry and strengthen ties between local communities with their environment.
Jenny Macias is the educational advisor for Galapagos Conservancy. She stressed that this project fits perfectly with their goals. By integrating the book in the Galapagos Contextualized Curriculum we inspire young minds to connect deeply to nature and realize the urgent need to preserve our valuable marine eco-system.
Galapagos Conservancy is committed to supporting conservation projects such as this. We congratulate Marjorie Riofrio for the launch of “Loberto and Zally”, which will encourage young people in Galapagos, to protect and preserve the iconic and loved sea lions and seals that call their home.
©Galápagos Conservancy
A team of Galapagos Conservancy specialists and park rangers from the Galapagos National Park Directorate led by Dr. Jorge Carrion, of the Galapagos Conservancy embarked recently on a crucial mission to safeguard the last wild population of yellow land Iguanas (Conolophus Subcristatus) of Galapagos. Cartago Bay is a rugged, remote and seldom visited area on Isabela Island‘s southeast shore. They spent eight days searching through hot lava fields, small hills and dense vegetation for the elusive Iguanas. They captured, measured and marked many of them, while collecting essential biological samples. This is the last wild population on Isabela Island, and it has not been monitored for 20 years. The team’s findings suggest that this isolated population is likely to recover.
Population Monitoring
The team caught 288 yellow land Iguanas during the expedition: 117 males and 171 females. The strong and feisty animals can be difficult to capture, but even more so to handle. The team managed to measure every iguana they captured, allowing them to determine the size of the population, its distribution, and the changes in conservation status.
The 288 individuals were tagged in two different ways: 50% of them had never been tagged, and the other 50% had subcutaneous devices fitted. Interestingly, some of the iguanas captured in 2024 had been part of a captive-breeding program that was launched in the 1970s. These individuals, which were introduced to Cartago Bay as juveniles several decades ago, would be around 50-60 years of age. This suggests that some individuals have not only survived, but thrived.
Dr. Jorge Carrion stated that the monitoring effort had produced an estimated population of 600-700 in Cartago Bay. He said that they also saw the positive effect of removing feral goats from the habitat of the iguanas. This allowed the habitat to recover, and more food was available for the iguanas.
Biological Sample Collection
The collection of biological specimens was another essential task on the expedition. The iguanas’ blood and feces were collected and will be analyzed soon to gain insight into the genetic health, diet and presence of diseases. This information will help develop effective protection strategies to protect this iconic species, both in Cartago Bay as well as elsewhere on the archipelago.
Recording other species of interest
The team also recorded other species of note in the area. Invasive species pose a serious threat to yellow-land iguanas. No invasive plant species have been recorded on this expedition. However, feral cats are common. Cats can eat iguanas that are still in their juvenile stage and this could potentially affect iguana reproductive success.
Expedition Success
The Cartago Bay expedition marked an important milestone in the efforts to conserve the yellow iguana. The expedition activities, from population monitoring to collecting biological samples, provide valuable information that will be used in developing a conservation strategy. The discovery of previously-tagged individuals is a clear indication of the success and ongoing efforts towards the reintroduction of young iguanas in the wild.
Scientists, technicians and park rangers observed an ecosystem that was steadily recovering after the removal of the feral goats. This has led to an increase in the food resources available for the iguanas. Dr. Carrion summarized the situation best, “We are now seeing the results of years of hard work to restore land Iguanas on this important area of Galapagos.”
This is only the beginning. Every expedition makes progress in protecting iconic species, which are important not only to the archipelago but to the individual species as well. Galapagos Conservancy reiterates its commitment to advance science and conservation not only for yellow land iguanas but also for all species that make Galapagos an international treasure.
Grace Unda’s initiative is aimed at restoring and conserving vegetation that has exceptional water absorption properties and retention in the Cerro Gato Watershed. Her main strategy is to plant a mixture of Guadua Bamboo and a native and endangered shrub species, the Galapagos Miconia ( Miconia Robinsoniana). The Guadua stabilizes soil and prevents erosive erosion while the Miconia increases the soil’s capacity to retain water.
Grace also received guidance and support from the Galapagos Park Directorate. They donated native plants in addition to Galapagos Miconia. These include white wild coffee (Psychotria Rufipes), Scalesia trees (Scalesia pendulata), and Galapagos Guava (Psidium gallapageium). These plants are important to the local ecosystems in Galapagos because they provide food and shelter for wildlife. These plantings are strategic and help to strengthen the plant cover, restore indigenous plants, and reestablish hydrological cycles, which ensures the sustainability of water resources for the area. They also help restore habitats and encourage the growth of forests, which contributes to the mitigation of climate change.
The restoration of the local, freshwater source that is so important on San Cristobal Island shows how effective environmental solutions can be achieved through collaboration between institutions. Dr. Our Director of Conservation Jorge Carrion emphasizes the importance of community involvement in ensuring sustainability of conservation projects on the Galapagos. He says that by empowering local communities, we can build a better future for the Galapagos and the rest of the world. We promote a development model which balances the needs of the economy, the social and the environment.
This project shows what can be accomplished when organizations and communities unite to achieve a common goal, which is to preserve the Galapagos Islands’ unique ecosystems and services.
