The Effects of El Niño on Galápagos Plants, Animals, and People

Giant tortoises benefit from increased food availability during El Niño, but their reproduction can be affected by flooding.

El Niño, which is a global climate anomaly, can affect the Galapagos Archipelago. El Niño-Southern Oscillation disrupts the ecosystems of the Galapagos Archipelago with increased ocean temperatures and rainfall. This affects marine species negatively, while benefiting some terrestrial species. It also challenges the cacti-dominated terrain and increases the risks from invasive plant species. El Niño […]

Galápagos in Flux: How El Niño is Reshaping Island Ecosystems

Sea turtles visiting the Galápagos Marine Reserve are among the species most susceptible to the El Niño phenomenon.

El Niño has started. This is a climate pattern that occurs periodically and brings warmer water into the Galapagos Archipelago. The trade winds that normally blow from east to western across the Pacific have begun to weaken. This has led to a decrease in the strength of Humboldt Current which brings cold water from Antarctica […]

Enhancing Pet Management in the Galapagos Islands by Implementing Microchips

James Gibbs, our President, Washington Tapia, our General Director, and Marilyn Cruz, former Executive Director of the ABG, strengthen the cooperation between the two institutions with the delivery of microchips for pets.

As part of our commitment, we recently donated 5,000 pet microchips to the four inhabited Galapagos islands as a way to support the ongoing efforts of the three Municipal Governments to manage urban wildlife. This is an important step in our mission to control domestic cats and dogs, which is crucial to protect vulnerable species. […]

One species of flycatcher in Galápagos appears extinct. Does the same fate await another?

The radiant Vermilion Flycatcher, recognized for its vivid red feathers.

A species of flycatcher appears to be extinct in Galapagos. Is another species in danger of extinction? Scientists comparing genes of the so-called “Vermilion flycatchers” in Galapagos seven years ago realized that they were looking at two different species. The birds in question were not the Vermilion flycatchers ( Pyrocephalus obscure), which are common throughout […]

The Enigma Of Fernanda – A Lone Survivor In Galápagos

Fernanda, the last known Fernandina giant tortoise

The discovery of Fernanda — a female Galapagos tortoise, the last member of the Fernandina (Chelonoidisphantasticus), previously believed extinct for more than a century — marked a conservation breakthrough by rediscovering an lost species. It is now highlighting the grim reality that species are extinction. The Galapagos Conservancy, the Galapagos National Park Directorate and other […]