A contagious disease could pose a grave threat to biodiversity in Galapagos Islands. Many species are at risk of extinction or decline due to the rapid spread of contagious disease such as avian Pox. Although avian pox has been around in Galapagos since 1898 when it was first introduced, much remains to be known about the disease. Although it is not known which species of birds are susceptible to avian pox, or when they occur, recent research has confirmed that Avipoxvirus DNA causes the disease in wild birds (including Darwin’s Finches). It can be found in three forms.

  • Cutaneous: Slow infection that results in nodules of various sizes.
  • Diphtheric: Lesions in the digestive or respiratory tracts.
  • Sepicemic: A severe infection that can cause death.

Galapagos Conservancy funded a research project to better understand and combat avian pox in March 2022. This study had two purposes: it was to determine the extent of avian disease in birds, specifically Finches, and assess the impact of this disease on Finches’ survival on Santa Cruz Island.

The study was conducted by Diana Loyola (a Galapagos Conservancy conservation grantee), Loyola’s team captured 3,108 birds from 11 species at 17 locations on Santa Cruz Island. There were many bird species that were captured, including nearly all the Finch species on the island. The Small Ground Finch (), which was the most infected, had the highest numbers.

Loyola and her colleagues calculated the prevalence of avian Pox over several months. Loyola and her team found a prevalence of avian pox of 7% in April and a prevalence rate of 6% in May and June. This does not mean that there is a significant variation in the infection rates. This confirms the findings of other studies (Jimenez -Uzcategui, 2007; Kleindorfer, & Dudaniec 2006), that fowl pox is possible in any season. The number of fowl-pox vectors (moths) that are present in warm weather can make it more difficult for birds to be affected and increase the risk of getting infected.

Avail pox was also assessed for its effect on survival. This required the difficult task of recapturing birds. Loyola states that there is no doubt that the virus has a negative effect on bird survival.

Apart from existing research on avian Pox, Dr. Jorge Carrion is the Conservation Director at Galapagos Conservancy with Conservando Galapagos. He said that this research is crucial for determining the conditions that favor the spread of the disease and recommending management strategies to stop it spreading.

The transmission of avian pox between birds can occur through skin contact and from bites by virus-infected mosquitoes. Transmission of disease is more likely during mosquito breeding season (Gerlach 1999). Galapagos Conservancy would like to congratulate Diana Loyola, her team and their hard work on the field. They also contributed in controlling avian pox. Dr. Carrion stated that “if we want to ensure our survival and the survival of all living things, we must be active in protecting our planet.”

Monitoring of Avian Pox

Monitoring of Avian Pox © Gabriela Loyola

Galapagos Conservancy is collaborating with the Galapagos National Park Directorate, (GNPD) to undertake an ambitious project that includes the first comprehensive census of Cerro Azul Giant Tortoises populations () on Isabela Island. In a period of 10 days, 2,222 tortoises that are endemic to Cerro Azul Volcano have been marked and evaluated.

Dr. Jorge Carrion is Director of Conservation for Galapagos Conservancy with Conservando Galapagos. He stated that while the species’ population has been negatively affected by the presence invasive species like guava or feral pigs but that the “expedition results have been positive and provide valuable data about the number of tortoises, the icons of Galapagos”, said that the expedition had provided useful information.

Washington Tapia is the General Director of Galapagos Conservancy. He also works with Conservando Galapagos. To determine the phylogenetic relationships between the various tortoise populations, blood samples were taken. Feces samples were also taken to examine their diet and contribution towards seed dispersal.

Galapagos Conservancy has a commitment to strengthening conservation efforts and protecting this species from invasive species. It is vital to conduct scientific expeditions to remote areas like Cerro Azul volcano in order to understand the status of Giant Tortoises’ population and ensure the conservation of this rare species.

Group of Galápagos Giant Tortoises at Cerro Azul

Group of Galápagos Giant Tortoises at Cerro Azul © Galápagos Conservancy

The Galapagos National Park Directorate provides 24-hour assistance for injured and sick wildlife in the Galapagos Islands as part of the Rapid Response Network (RRN).

Galapagos Conservancy has supported this rescue network since March 2002. It promotes and supports conservation efforts on the Galapagos Islands. Dr. Jorge Carrion is the conservation director at Conservando Galapagos and a partner in Galapagos Conservancy. He stated that “we are proud of working hand-in-hand to the GNPD and we aspire permanently to the short term recovery and, if feasible, the reintroduction affected species into their natural environment.”

Galapagos Conservancy supported the purchase of veterinary medicine, medical supplies, and rescue equipment to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts for affected species. It was also possible to adapt the marine animal hospital facilities and the necropsy area for the deceased.

  • In 2022, 163 animals were reported as being in apparent adverse circumstances (injured or sick, or dead).
  • 73% of the animals (119 animals) were directly or indirectly affected.
  • 48 animals were treated by the RRN. 22 of them were able to recover and were released.

Experts performed a post-mortem examination of 26 animals in order to determine the cause of death. They found that vehicle collisions and canine attacks were the most common causes for animal injuries due to human activity.

Carrion stated, “We thank our collaborators, lovers of Galapagos biodiversity. whose donations enable me to provide permanent assistance for injured or sick wildlife of Archipelago and to take other timely steps to preserve this legacy.”

RRN staff treating a Blue Footed Booby

RRN staff treating a Blue Footed Booby © Galápagos National Park Directorate

Many women don’t know how to manage menstruation, despite the fact that it is an integral part of every woman’s life. Carolina Carrion Cortez from Galapagos, a citizen of the Galapagos, created a program on menstrual education that focused on women’s health and conservation.

Carolina’s educational program was launched on May 20,22. It is targeted at Santa Cruz Island girls aged 11 and 12. Many Galapagos women grew up believing that menstruation is associated with shame, limitation, or disease. Red Coral, a Campaign was created as part of the project with the help of experts from Red in Red Citizen’s Collective. This group of women is dedicated to education and menstrual health. The workshops offer detailed and precise information about managing menstruation.

Carolina spoke on the Galapagos Conservancy radio show. She stated that the initiative includes a sustainability component. This raises awareness about the fact that disposable menstrual pads and tampons are toxic to the environment. Reusable menstrual management products are very environmentally friendly and help women’s health.

This project will help girls to understand that menstruation does not have to be shameful.

Gabriela Vivas (Director of Operations at Galapagos Conservancy) commended Carolina’s initiative. She stated that stigmatization and taboos around menstruation have made it difficult for women to be educated, healthy, and happy. Menstrual education should be accessible to all.

Santa Cruz’s two public schools are involved in the project, which aims to reduce the stigma associated with menstruation. Around 200 people have benefited from the project, including 90 young girls and 13 teachers as well as their parents.

We hope to reach all Galapagos schools and colleges through this campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable menstrual management products and biodegradable materials. Carolina stated, “I am passionately committed to helping our girls live their menarche naturally. This will allow them to explore this new phase in their lives with a more respectful perspective of their bodies.

Galapagos Conservancy commends Carolina for her efforts to address issues related to menstrual health from an environmental perspective. Carolina’s holistic approach prepares young girls for a new stage in their lives and examines the environmental impact of menstrual product.

Carolina Carrión in a menstrual education workshop

Carolina Carrión in a menstrual education workshop © Galápagos Conservancy

Galapagos Conservancy, together with Conservando Galapagos, have an important role in conserving the Archipelago. We have a partnership agreement with the Galapagos National Park Directorate to rewild all 13 species of the Galapagos Giant Totoises. We use every tool we can to speed up the breeding, incubating and hatching of tortoises.

In 1965, a pioneering captive breeding program was established on Santa Cruz Island to help recover Critically Endangered Galapagos Giant Turtoise Populations. Later, Breeding Centers were opened on Isabela Island and San Cristobal Islands. The eggs are either taken from the wild to the Centers for hatching or kept in captivity. When the tortoises reach the size to resist predators, the eggs are hatched. They are then released into the wild.The incubators must be kept at a temperature that is suitable for the survival of the embryos as well as the determination of the sex of hatchlings. Galapagos Giant Turtoise eggs incubate at 72-93 degrees F in the wild. Temperatures between 78 and 85 degrees F produce most males. To increase wild release of tortoises, we plan to breed more females.

To hatch baby tortoises, the first breeding program used artisanal solar incubators made of wood and lined by cement. To maintain eggs at a constant temperature, electric hair dryers were connected to timers. Iniciativa Galapagos funded the modernization and expansion of Santa Cruz and Isabela’s Breeding Centers. This included a sophisticated automated incubator system that controls and regulates the temperature.

In 1970, the program’s first great success was when 20 of its first baby tortoises were born in captivity and released to Pinzon Island. Nearly 9,000 juvenile tortoises were released back to their islands of origin since then. Captive rearing is responsible for the survival of as many as a third all Galapagos Giant Tortoises today. Galapagos Conservancy, Conservando Galapagos and Conservando Galapagos have supported the Galapagos National Park in maintaining three breeding centers. There are many threats to Giant Tortoises and their numbers remain below 10%. We are thrilled to announce that the San Cristobal Breeding Center will reopen in 2023. Today, 2,200 more juvenile tortoises are being kept at the Breeding Centers. They will soon be released into nature, and there will be thousands more.

As part of the actions of the “Galapagos Initiative” and as a result of joint expeditions between the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) and the Galapagos Conservancy, among other aspects of the natural history of the pink iguana (Conolophus marthae), we recorded, both when the nesting season occurs and the location of the nesting areas and located and photographed, in the vicinity, the first observed offspring of this species in its different stages of development. Unfortunately, camera trap surveys in the nesting area reveal that feral cats are preying on juveniles as they emerge from their subway nests. This discovery is a significant breakthrough in identifying a way to save the pink iguana.

Pink Iguana

First-ever photos of juvenile Pink Iguanas showing characteristic striping © GNPD / Galápagos Conservancy

Pink Iguana Nesting Site

Photo of the first documented nesting site by Pink Iguanas © GNPD / Galápagos Conservancy

Over the past 10 months, a team from the GNPD and Galapagos Conservancy, made up of park rangers Johanes Ramirez and Jean Pierre Cadena along with Mario Yepez, Adrian Cueva and members of the Galapagos Conservancy conservation team, undertook a series of expeditions to the remote Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island in search of pink iguanas.
It takes two days to climb the volcano and reach the site of the last surviving population of pink iguanas. Since the discovery of this new species in 2009, the total population is currently estimated to be around 200-300 adults, and until now no juveniles have been documented. With a dwindling adult population, there is worldwide concern that this species is rapidly approaching extinction.

Since the “Galapagos Initiative” announced in October 2021 to bring together the efforts of the GNPD and the Galapagos Conservancy to help save the pink iguana, seven expeditions have been conducted to assess the current status and identify the threats facing the species; in recent months, the team documented nesting sites and detected active nests as well as hatchlings and juvenile iguanas of different ages.

Non-native feral cats preying on Pink Iguana hatchlings

Non-native feral cats preying on Pink Iguana hatchlings. © GNPD / Galápagos Conservancy

Genetic analysis to confirm the identification of juvenile pink iguanas is ongoing, while camera traps deployed by the team throughout the volcano have documented ample evidence of pink iguana mating and nesting activity, and even potential competition with conspecifics with whom they share Wolf Volcano’s habitat.

At the same time, there is great concern about the abundant presence of feral cats in the iguana’s living and nesting areas, representing a serious threat to these reptiles in their most critical and vulnerable phase, being currently considered one of the main causes for the lack of documented recruitment in the pink iguana population.

The Galapagos Initiative is now urgently focused on providing greater facilities for monitoring, research and protection of the pink iguana nesting areas through the implementation of a permanent station, funded by the Galapagos Conservancy, on the summit of the volcano with 360 degree visibility.

Danny Rueda, Director of the Galapagos National Park, thanked the Galapagos Conservancy for their support and assured that “this remote base will facilitate the conservation and monitoring work on the volcano, especially to guarantee the conservation and restoration of the pink iguana population”.