Candice Gaukel Andrews

On November 16, 1972, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the World Heritage Convention. It was an historic milestone: The treaty was a giant step forward in helping to protect and conserve those places around the planet that “through their natural beauty or cultural resonance have left an indelible mark on humanity’s collective imagination.” 

In 1978, UNESCO declared the Galápagos Islands one of its first twelve World Heritage Sites — not surprising, given the islands’ incredible naturalness and unique geologic, biologic, and human history. 

Since then, more than 188 countries have ratified the convention and more than 936 separate sites have been placed on the list.

Learn more about the yearlong celebration.

Image ©Candice Gaukel Andrews

Candice Gaukel Andrews

Those of us who travel often find out that there is no better way to prove yourself, to test your most fondly held beliefs, and to discover which issues mean the most to you than by stepping outside your normal routine and comfort zone. So when I had an opportunity to travel to the Galápagos Islands in January, I felt I was up to the challenge of venturing about as far away from my everyday life as I could get.

My Januarys — in Wisconsin, where I live — are typically filled with snow, below-freezing temperatures, Arctic cold fronts, more snow, and — as a result — snow blowers. Going to the Galápagos for a Midwesterner like me was going to be akin to traveling to the opposite end of the Earth. 

Standing on another place — or in another time

Before I left home, I knew that the Galápagos and Ecuador were going to be hot; after all, we would be crossing the Equator four times in our weeklong Ecoventura tour. And prior to leaving, I had read about the challenges the islands face; about the invasive plant, animal, and insect species and the work that’s being done to eradicate them; the ever-increasing population; and the historical overfishing in the marine reserve. 

But environmental threats such as these didn’t have an immediate meaning for me until my small group of about twenty travelers was on Bartolomé Island, a place where the landscape could just as easily be described as a “moonscape.” Among the volcanic cones and lava tubes, I could also readily envision standing on planet Earth when it was new, before beings like me were even an idea. It became clear to me in a way that couldn’t be shown in a book why the islands had become one of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s original twelve World Heritage Sites in 1978: to protect such an extraordinary place from land development and exploitation of its biological species.

Of course, the highlight for most visitors to the Galápagos is seeing the giant tortoises. Photos and stories about them are published around the world. But when I got to the islands, I learned that the best opportunity to see them (without having to scale a volcano) is to go to a preserve. It gave me pause to think that this icon of the islands is difficult to find in the wild anymore. While it was gratifying to later see small tortoises in pens at the Charles Darwin Research Station, where they were being reared so that they could eventually be retuned to their native islands, the experience pointed up just how much has already been lost due to human presence.

A contrary compass

For a northern-climate-born person like me, though, I will admit that I found the Galápagos sun unrelenting. I had brought along my Wisconsin “summer clothes,” which basically consist of lighter, long-sleeved shirts and three-quarter-length pants, rather than my usual down-to-the-ankle jeans. The big surprise was that I turned out to be the smartest packer. Many of my fellow travelers commented that they had brought along sleeveless shirts and shorts only to find they couldn’t wear them due to the intensity of the sun. It seems I had blundered my way into being the group’s savviest island traveler.  

In spite of my cover-ups, I did get a remarkable “Teva-tan” on my ankles and feet — the sections of my lower limbs that my pants failed to cover and that showed through the straps of my sandals. Those parts ended up with a ruby-red burn, but I felt it was a small price to pay for the natural wonders I was seeing: birds that don’t fly away when I approach, sea lions who come up to greet me, and iguanas that I swear posed and smiled for my camera.

 My experience in the Galápagos has made me think that sometimes when choosing a travel destination, playing “opposites” will bring you the most reward. Think of where you live and what you’d usually be doing at that time of year, then go to the opposing corner of the globe: in temperature, latitude, and culture. I now know that it makes for an eye-opening journey.

Culture clash

In one day’s time, I had left the morning sun of Ecuador behind and was back in the cold of a Midwest winter night. We’d had a snowstorm while I was gone, and it was time to start up the snow blower. Talk about culture shock. 

But this time when I was pulling that engine’s cord, I somehow felt different. I wondered what the temperature was like at the Equator at that moment; who now was witnessing the moonscape on Bartolomé? Did a lightbulb just go on over that person’s head — like it had over mine — about how essential to our spirits World Heritage Sites are? Were the small tortoises I saw growing up at the Charles Darwin Research Station thriving; were they being carefully watched at this second so they avoided harm; that they could one day be returned to their native islands to repopulate them? 

And, isn’t it amazing, I thought, that this time under the ankles of my snow pants and inside my Gore-Tex boots lurks the hard-earned tingle of a sunburn and peeling skin.

All Images ©John T. Andrews

Lonesome George, perhaps the Galapagos Islands' most famous resident and a truly one-of-a-kind guy, is looking for love, according to www.lovegeorge.org, a website created by Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT).

Visit the site and you can send George (the world's last known living Pinta giant tortoise) a Valentine's Day message (the top five will receive a prize "picked specially by George"). You can also learn about his discovery by a researcher on the island of Pinta in 1972, and the many unsuccessful attempts since then to find him a mate. The site also features plenty of  Lonesome George videos and stories written by some of the people who know him best. And most importantly, you can make a donation to the GCT and help them in their efforts to protect the wildlife of the Galapagos. While it may be too late to find George a mate and save his kind, it's not too late for many of the other Galapagos species that need your help. 

And if you want to go see giant Galapagos tortoises for yourself, we encourage you to find a responsible Galapagos tour operator through IGTOA's member directory. 

Images: Lonesome George © putneymark. LoveGeorge logo © GCT.

Candice Gaukel Andrews

Reptile Channel.com reported this week that land and marine iguanas —as well as giant tortoises — living next to tourist sites or human settlements on the Galápagos Islands are more likely to harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria than those that live in more remote or protected locations. 

Although further studies are needed to better understand how proximity to humans may increase disease risk in endemic Galápagos wildlife, the finding underscores what researchers have known for a long time: that the Galápagos are the perfect place to study ecology and evolution — and to work to solve environmental challenges.

Candice Gaukel Andrews

Curiosity can lead to wondrous things, as every scientist knows. And it certainly did recently for Dr. Howard Falcon-Lang at the British Geological Survey.

Poking around in a dusty corner in the survey’s archives, Falcon-Lang happened to come across an old cabinet. Of course, he opened a few drawers to see what was inside. He was shocked by what he found: The first slide he pulled out of its pocket turned out to be one of the specimens collected by Charles Darwin on his famous expedition to the Galapagos Islands on the HMS Beagle — one of many such items that have been hidden for more than 165 years.

Read more about this new discovery and then view an online museum exhibit.

Image: J. Cameron. Copyright expired. 

Candice Gaukel Andrews

Two non-profit organizations in the Galapagos Islands learned this month that they will get a financial boost from the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA). The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and WildAid will receive a combined total of $63,000 from the 2012 IGTOA Traveler Funding Program, which generates revenue for conservation and professional standards development programs in the Galapagos Islands through the support of its member companies and their travelers.

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), which has been operating in the Galapagos since 1959, was created to provide scientific information to the Ecuadorian Government to safeguard the Galapagos environment and biodiversity. 

CDF will receive a total of $28,000. IGTOA members allocated $10,000 to the station for general operating support — to help it improve its physical and staffing infrastructure in order to meet the islands’ present and future challenges. Another $18,000 was awarded towards its interpretive services program which enables young Ecuadorians and Galapagos residents to gain experience in tourism and public relations.

Says Swen Lorenz, executive director of the CDF, “We are very grateful for the exciting news that we are again to receive support from the Traveler Funding Program. The CDF, through its unique agreement with the government of Ecuador to provide technical advice to Galapagos stakeholders and especially to the Galapagos National Park Service, is at the forefront of science for the protection and conservation of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. CDF staff (the majority of whom are Galapagos natives) — together with many international, Ecuadorian, and Galapagos volunteers — work tirelessly to bring the highest standard of research and technical assistance to Galapagos decision-makers. IGTOA’s recognition that the behind-the scenes staff and activities are crucial to optimum operation is reflected in the gift toward general operating support.” 

Together, the Galapagos National Park Service’s giant tortoise captive breeding center and the Charles Darwin Foundation’s Research Station, on Santa Cruz Island have become an important visitor site for cruise- and land-based tourists. The importance of nature-based tourism, with companies and boat owners who are aware of the need to balance Galapagos’ conservation needs and sustainability with their own financial sustainability, has never been more crucial. Says Lorenz, “In 2012, CDF is very pleased to continue partnering with IGTOA in providing for our visitor services team. Our goal is for visitors to the station to receive personal attention to make their visits as pleasant and informative as possible. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and to working together with IGTOA to protect and conserve the natural biodiversity of the Galapagos Archipelago.” 

WildAid, an organization whose mission is to end illegal wildlife trade by reducing demand through public awareness campaigns and providing comprehensive marine protection, will receive $25,000 in funds, which will go toward supporting a preventive quarantine initiative in the Galapagos Islands supply chain. The program will endeavor to design internationally accepted biosecurity protocols at the embarkation port in Guayaquil. The monies from IGTOA will specifically be used to help in procuring a biosecurity expert and help pay for biosecurity equipment costs.

Marcel Bigue, executive director of WildAid Galapagos, says “IGTOA has provided critical funding to a variety of initiatives in Galapagos ranging from the establishment of the Cecilia Alvear Women's Organization's boutique in San Cristobal to conservation education and outreach in Puerto Ayora primary schools to directly helping the park service stop illegal fishing in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. We have come to count on IGTOA and the thousands of dedicated tourists to help us in our efforts to protect this truly unique ecosystem. In 2012, funds will be used to help stop invasive species from reaching the islands by setting up quarantine procedures and improving cargo-loading standards on the continent and at key Galapagos ports. With your help we can continue to protect these fabled Islands for generations to come.”  

IGTOA member companies voted to approve the requests in December. Companies that participate in the Traveler Funding Program encourage their travelers to make a donation to the fund by providing them with information and educational materials about the challenges facing the Galapagos Islands. Since the program’s inception in 2003, it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support a variety of conservation projects in the Galapagos, including a cleanup of Academy Bay, in which local fishermen netted more than eight thousand pounds of waste; acquisition of a GPS system and video equipment for Galapagos National Park rangers, to be used when they patrol the islands for illegal fishing activity; and a project to neuter stray dogs and cats to prevent their further spread on the islands. A list of companies that participate in the program can be found on IGTOA’s website at www.igtoa.org/galapagos-funding.

For more information on IGTOA's Traveler Funding Program, please contact Matt Kareus at exd@igtoa.org.

 Photos courtesy of the Charles Darwin Foundation and WildAid.

Matt Kareus

A species of giant Galapagos tortoise thought to have been extinct since the mid-19th century may still be alive and well in the Galapagos, according to a paper published by Yale researchers in this week’s edition of the journal Current Biology. 

Genetic analysis conducted on giant tortoises on Isabela Island revealed that some of the animals are the direct offspring of Chelnoidis elephantopus, which were endemic to Floreana Island, and were thought to have been killed off by whalers for food about a decade after Darwin’s historic visit in 1835. 

"To our knowledge, this is the first report of the rediscovery of a species by way of tracking the genetic footprints left in the genomes of its offspring," study co-author Ryan Garrick said in a written statement.

Giant tortoises, which can reach up to almost 900 pounds, are one of the species that helped Darwin formulate his theory of evolution after he discovered that many of the islands were home to their own distinct tortoise species. His theory explained how species in the Galapagos adapted to survive the specific conditions on different islands, ultimately giving rise to new species. 

In 2008, the researchers went to Isabela and spent two weeks taking blood samples from 1,669 of the island's 8,000 giant tortoises. Subsequent analysis of the DNA revealed that at least 84 of the animals are hybrids of C. elephantopus and Chelonoidis becki, a closely related species found on Isabella. At least 30 of the hybrids were less than 15 years old, which proves that mating between the two species occurred recently and indicates that there are Floreana species still alive on the island. 

Yale evolutionary biologist and senior author Adalgisa Caccone explained to USA Today, "The only way these hybrids could be produced is if we had some pure animals still alive on the island...because some of these animals are hybrids, which are first-generation crosses."  

Though the researchers didn’t locate any non-hybrid C. elephantopus individuals, they believe that as many as 34 of them may be alive on the island. Even if purebred individuals aren't found, scientists believe that they may be able to bring the species back through intensive and targeted breeding of the hybrids over four generations, which would take approximately 100 years. 

In 1994, the same researchers took 60 blood samples from tortoises living on Wolf volcano on Isabela. Many of the individuals were so divergent genetically the researchers referred to them as “aliens.” Years later, as DNA analysis techniques dramatically improved, the researchers analyzed shell and bone fragments of extinct Galapagos tortoise species and discovered that Isabela’s “aliens” were descended from from Floreana's C. elephantopus. This information prompted researchers to return and confirm their findings. 

If pure-blooded animals can be found, researchers say they'll be reintroduced to their home island of Floreana. Giant tortoises are crucial to the ecosystems of their islands, Caccone told USA Today. For example, the highly endangered prickly pear cactus that grows on them can only sprout after its seeds have gone through the gut of a tortoise. The hybrids' genetic information could also play a vital role in efforts to conserve giant tortoises in the future. 

The researchers believe that some of the tortoises captured by whalers and taken aboard their ships to be stored as food somehow escaped or were released and made their to Isabela.  

Image Copyright: Steve Morello

The International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) has announced that its 2012 Members Meeting will take place at the Hotel Oro Verde in Guayaquil, Ecuador on June 14th and 15th.

Past IGTOA Member Meetings have featured top Ecuadorian tourism authorities and leading Galapagos conservation experts and scientists. Seminars and roundtable discussions about the future of Galapagos tourism and conservation challenges affecting the Galapagos will once again be on the agenda. The meeting is open to Full and Associate IGTOA members as well as Friends of IGTOA.

More information will be sent to members in the coming weeks.

If you are interested in attending or presenting at the meeting please email Matt Kareus at exd@igtoa.org.

Galapagos National Park authorities have announced that they have permanently suspended the construction of a hotel in Puerto Ayora on the island of Santa Cruz. Mauricio Ponce, who authorities determined had not obtained the proper environmental license to construct a hotel, was fined US$52,800. He was also ordered to submit a remediation plan and a full emergency assessment of environmental damage and compensation for members of the community who were affected.

Construction began on the building after Ponce received a permit to construct a single family home in the Punta Estrada neighborhood of Puerto Ayora. Controversy soon followed when it became apparent by the size and appearance of the building that it was actually intended to be a hotel and not a house. The building has 26 rooms and the hotel was already being marketing on the Internet as the ‘Palo Santo Spa.’

There are strict regulations governing the construction of new hotels in the Galapagos Islands. The regulations are intended to help protect and preserve the islands’ unique ecosystems and wildlife and minimize the negative impacts of unplanned development on communities. Still, the tourism boom in the islands has enticed some to attempt to circumvent the existing laws. The stringent enforcement of these laws is vital to the long-term health and sustainability of the Galapagos Islands. Illegal hotels pose an unacceptable threat to this priceless world treasure and hurt business owners who play by the rules. IGTOA commends Galapagos National Park authorities for their decisive action in this case. 

For more information on how to visit the Galapagos with responsible Galapagos tour operators visit our Member Directory.

The Government of Ecuador recently announced that ticket prices for air transport in Ecuador will increase on January 1, 2012 because it is eliminating its 40% subsidy for local aviation fuel. The move is expected to save the country of Ecuador US$92 million. The price increases will affect all passengers, including those flying to the Galapagos, through Quito and Guayaquil. The subsidy will not be eliminated for governmental domestic airports. 

Passengers on Aerogal flights will be charged an additional $100 for roundtrip flights. Passengers on Tame flights will be charged an additional $120 for roundtrip flights through Guayaquil and $140 for roundtrip flights through Quito. Passengers will be charged the additional fee regardless of when their tickets were issued. The fee may be paid in cash or with a major credit card. 

Aerogal's new published fares for travel to and from the Galapagos for 2012 are as follows:

 Route                                High Season   Low Season

GYE-Galapagos-GYE       $483.95           $440.27

UIO-Galapagos-GYE        $510.15           $460.87

GYE-Galapagos-UIO        $507.47           $456.87

UIO-Galapagos-UIO         $533.67           $478.79

Key:

GYE – Guayaquil

UIO – Quito

High Season:  July, August, December

Low Season:  Rest of the year  

For more information, please contact your tour operator. 

Image: Constantine Evans

The Galápagos Islands continue to call to increasing numbers of visitors — from a few thousand annually in the 1960s to more than 170,000 today. The purpose of the Galápagos National Park authority’s new regulations that will go into effect on February 1, 2012, is to enhance those travelers’ experiences while protecting the fragile ecosystems of what were once known simply as the “enchanted islands.”

Several recent news stories regarding the new regulations have either caused confusion or spread misinformation. In reality, while most tour providers were limited to seven-night itineraries under the old regulations (with only a few authorized to conduct 10-night or 14-night trips), the new regulations require that cruises in the Galápagos operate on a 15-day/14-night schedule. Operators may divide that span of time into a maximum of four segments. It is believed that most tour operators will split their itineraries into: 1) two, seven-night trips; 2) two, five-night tours and one, four-night trip; 3) two, four-night tours and one, six-night trip; or 4) two, four-night and two, three-night trips. During that 15-day timeframe, a boat may not visit the same site twice, with the exception of the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. 

Under the previous regulations, some sites — such as Darwin Bay on Tower (Genovesa) Island and Tagus Cove on Isabela Island — were off-limits to larger vessels. Lifting that ban will result in increased visitor numbers at underused spots and decreased numbers at sites that are becoming imperiled from too much traffic. 

For the first half of 2011, the majority of travelers landed at the airport on Baltra Island. A smaller share of visitors landed at the San Crisóbal Island airport. By including the requirement in the new regulations that the airport on San Cristóbal be utilized at least once in every 15-day/14-night cruise schedule, some of the tourist pressure on Baltra will also be lightened.

“Based on feedback we’ve received from IGTOA members,” says Matt Kareus, executive director of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, “most seem to see the new rules as a step in the right direction. These regulations will help reduce the impact on certain important sites and should, overall, improve visitor experiences.” 

The Galápagos Islands were among the first group of sites added to the World Heritage List in 1978. But in 2007, threats from increasing tourism, overfishing, and encroaching invasive species put the Galápagos on the List of World Heritage in Danger places. However, because of Ecuador’s progress in strengthening conservation measures, the Galápagos were removed from that roster in July 2010. 

The new regulations should help ensure that the Galápagos do not become “endangered” again.

Photo: Steve Morello/Natural Habitat Adventures

Yampu Tours announced today that they have graciously accepted the 2011 World Travel Award as Leading Tour Operator in South America after an industry-wide voting process.  This prestigious honor comes one year after receiving the 2010 World Travel Award in the same category, and after an exciting year of growth and development for Yampu Tours. Yampu Tours attributes its success to the company’s dedication to superior customer service.  Since 1998, Yampu Tours has received overwhelmingly positive testimonials from clients repeatedly noting Yampu’s high attention to detail, customized itineraries, and personal and professional care; these attributes allow clients to feel safe and reassured when traveling with Yampu Tours.   

This year marks Yampu’s 13th year creating trips of a lifetime to Latin America, and also marks a new chapter in Yampu’s successful history with a launch of their new website featuring South East Asia, Africa, and India.   Yampu’s decision to expand its specialty generated directly from loyal clients who consistently requested a similar Yampu experience in other destinations.  2011 has also been a year of personnel growth within the company as Yampu has added several new employees and an entire team of operations who work relentlessly to ensure all trips go according to plan.  Yampu Tours strives to build lifelong relationships with clients.  Yampu’s Operations team work persistently to guarantee a prompt resolution to any unexpected issue and to make sure the client is consistently updated to any changes and progress.       

The World Travel Awards are recognized globally by the travel, tourism and hospitality industry as the foremost recognition and acknowledgement of excellence in product and service worldwide.  Votes for nominees are cast globally by 183,000 fellow travel professionals in over 160 countries across the globe. “To be respected by our industry peers as well as our clients is a true honor,” said Jose Irauzqui, who co-founded Yampu Tours with his wife, Monica, 14 years ago. 

Based in Stowe, Vermont and with offices in New York City, Yampu Tours has a A+ rating at the BBB (Better Business Bureau), is a member of ASTA (the American Society of Travel Agents), and bonded with ARC (American Airlines Reporting Corporation), IATA and ATOL in the UK.   For more information, please visit www.yampu.com or contact: Toll Free: (US) 1-888-926 7801 (UK) 0800 011 2424 International: (US) +1 212 206-3710 (UK) +44 20 89299886 E-mail: info@yampu.com

Santiago Dunn, President, said that his company has pledged up to $4,800 to cover the cost of 12 scholarships for one course/module for 2012. Guests aboard Ecoventura’s fleet will be invited to donate to the scholarship fund that is dedicated to training young people to become leaders in society and contribute to the sustainable development of the islands, a World Heritage Site.

Donations can be made by going directly to the EPI web site at: https://www.ecologyproject.org/donate/.

“Developing critical-thinking skills and a conservation ethic along with knowledge of the problems that threaten the sustainability of the islands are among the main objectives of the training program,” Dunn said.

The program is under the auspices of Ecology Project International (EPI), a non-governmental, non-profit organization http://www.ecologyproject.org/ whose main goal is to inspire conservation in young people through education and field science programs. Since 2003 over 600 Galapagos teens age 16-17 have been engaged in EPI, focusing on science, conservation and intercultural exchange.  

The 2012 goal is to conduct six ecology courses for 12 students each, benefiting a total of 72 students from across the province. Students spend 50 hours in the field directly involved in conservation actions concerning invasive species and the health and release of turtles into the wild. At the end of the course the best students will be invited to join a four night Galapagos cruise.  A $400 donation makes the course possible for one student.

About Ecoventura: Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard its fleet of three expedition vessels; Eric, Flamingo and Letty, identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts. The company also operates the M/V Galapagos Sky, a 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard offering 7-night weekly itineraries visiting the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. 

To reserve a cabin or private charter, or to receive a copy of Ecoventura’s 2012 catalog please call toll-free 1.800.633.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com. To access current rates, schedules and itineraries log on to www.ecoventura.com/. 

# # #

Ecoventura Company Contact:

Doris Welsh / doris@galapagosnetwork.com / Phone: 800.644.7972

For photos and/or more information on how Ecoventura is making a difference in the Galapagos Islands please contact:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / sara@widnesspr.com

Dave Wiggins / 303-554-8821 / d.wiggins@comcast.net

Website and Portfolio of Past Releases: http://www.travelnewssource.com/

Follow Widness & Wiggins PR on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BoulderDave

The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment recently announced that it will work with the community of Puerto Ayora, the largest human settlement in the Galapagos Islands, on the planned “El Mirador” housing development to help ensure that it is ‘sympathetic’ to the local environment. 

The municipality had already approved the development, which will consist of approximately 1,000 homes. According to the foundation’s website, the Prince's Foundation was originally contacted by the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos Conservation Trust about their concerns over the impact of the development on the precious and fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos.

The foundation hosted a series of community workshops this summer and now plans to advise local officials on how create more housing and accommodations for tourists while minimizing negative impacts to the environment. The foundation has produced an “architectural best-practice guide,” which sets out information on building codes and energy efficient housing, while considering the overall impacts of construction on the local eco-system and communities within the area.

The foundation’s design for the houses includes solar panels; large porches to cool air and dispense with the need for air-conditioning; cisterns to collect rain for re-use; and green sewage systems. 

Hank Dittmar, the foundation’s chief executive, said: ‘Given the decision of the Galapagos government to approve development, the Prince’s Foundation is looking forward to showing that people and nature can co-exist in a harmonious balance. ‘If we’re to avoid damage to the incredibly important environment and ecosystems of the Galapagos, we need to plan growth so as it makes the place more sustainable into the future – not less.’

The wildlife of the Galapagos Islands could be at risk from West Nile virus unless stringent biosecurity measures are strictly enforced, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Researchers reached this troubling conclusion after determining that mosquitoes that were accidentally introduced to the islands in the 1980s are capable of spreading the virus, which most commonly infects birds, but can also be spread to reptiles and mammals, including people. 

Although the virus has not yet reached the islands, scientists are concerned that if it does it could wreak havoc on many of the islands’ iconic and fragile animal populations. After the virus arrived in New York in 1999 it rapidly spread across the US, leading to declines in the populations of several bird species. 

According to Gillian Eastwood, a researcher at the Institute of Zoology, 'The situation in North America demonstrates the potential risk. A lot of the islands' wildlife has also evolved in isolation, so animals likely haven't built up much immunity to new diseases like West Nile virus.’

The virus, which originated in Africa, has spread around the world and is now found six continents, thanks to increased air and boat travel around the world. The virus is now in South America, though it is unknown whether it has reached Ecuador, the gateway to the Galapagos Islands. While no cases of West Nile Virus have been found in the Galapagos, recent studies have shown that a type of mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) that could be carrying the disease has reached the Galápagos on airplanes. 

Eastwood, along with colleagues from the New York State Department of Health, the University of Leeds and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), measured how well the C. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes in the Galápagos could pick up and transmit West Nile virus in lab conditions mimicking those found in the wild. Their results confirmed that the mosquito can indeed carry the virus. 'There's no doubt that West Nile virus poses a serious threat to the survival of the Galápagos' iconic wildlife,' says Professor Andrew Cunningham from ZSL.

The solution, according to Eastwood, is to prevent C. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from reaching the Galapagos. 'The main thing is to stop invasive species like mosquitoes getting to the islands in the first place. Tourism is great for the local economy, but biocontrol needs to be taken very seriously,' she says.

According to Professor Andrew Cunningham from the Zoological Society of London, 'We now know that mosquitoes capable of carrying West Nile virus have a route onto the Galápagos, and once there, the virus could also spread into the local mosquito population. This means there is potential for large impacts on endemic species. There is no doubt that West Nile virus poses a serious threat to the survival of the Galápagos' iconic wildlife.' 

The reports suggests that strict insect control measures on aircraft and ships moving between the mainland and islands, need to be performed on mainland Ecuador to prevent the disease from reaching the islands. Flights that arrive into the Galápagos are fumigated, but not all transport to the islands is. 'It's important that all incoming transport is included, like military aircraft and boats for example,' says Eastwood.

Visitor numbers to the islands have increased from 41,000 in 1991 to more than 160,000 at last count. The growing human population of the Galapagos Islands, now at 23,000, has also resulted in increased air traffic to and from the islands.

From Sea Shepherd 

Galapagos hadn’t fully recovered from one of the largest shark poaching cases, which occured this past July, when yet another vessel was caught inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) just last week. The Ecuadorian Navy apprehended the Reina del Cisne, an industrial fishing vessel from Manta, on September 16, 2011. The navy found the industrial fishing vessel six nautical miles inside the GMR.

The Reina del Cisne, together with two small boats, was equipped with longlines, a fishing method prohibited by Galapagos regulations. Upon inspection of the mothership, dozens of dead sharks were found in their holds. The navy ordered the vessel to San Cristobal Island for further inspection, where it has been detained pending the ongoing investigation. The 12 crewmembers have all been placed under arrest.

Sea Shepherd Galapagos participated as an official observer in the inspection of the vessel that took place on September 20. We witnessed the devastating effects of shark fishing when the deck of the Reina del Cisne slowly filled with one dead shark after another.  The final number of victims was 81, including 69 thresher sharks, 11 blue sharks, and one silky shark. Some of these sharks were only a few months old, a truly sad sight. Thresher sharks are valued for their long fins, which unfortunately bring in a lot of money in the Asian market. Thresher sharks are also known for having small litters of two to four sharks per birth. This low reproduction rate combined with the extensive overfishing for their fins has resulted in thresher sharks being listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Sea Shepherd is grateful to have been given the opportunity to participate in this inspection. We were impressed with the efficiency and excellent cooperation between the various governmental organizations involved in this case. A legal document to record the inspection will be signed next week by all participants, including our Director of Operations, formalizing Sea Shepher´s observer status of the inspection. The Galapagos National Park Service, the Ecuadorian Navy, Ecuadorian National Police, the science sector represented by Gaias, and of course the Environmental Prosecutor all deserve a big compliment for their role in gathering the evidence in this case.

We hope there will be no further cases this year of industrial vessels entering the GMR without authorization. But if they do, we know that the Galapagos law enforcement agencies are doing a great job. As for the judicial response to this case, we demand local judges to realize that they are delivering justice in a national protected area and a world natural heritage site where sharks are protected. Nevertheless, we will keep monitoring this judicial case to advocate for the proper application of the Ecuadorian green Constitution, the Convention on the World Natural Heritage, the Galapagos special legal regime, and the Penal Code of Ecuador.

Photo: Tim Watters

Last week the Galapagos National Park Service decided to end the practice of allowing visitors to access two giant tortoise corrals at the Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding and Rearing Center on Santa Cruz. The two corrals had been open to the public and gave visitors the opportunity to walk freely among the tortoises.

The move by the park service was precipitated by reports to the environmental authority in recent months alleging an increase in inappropriate behavior in the corrals by some naturalist guides and visitors, including littering and violating the park's rules against touching and coming within two meters of the animals. According to the reports, visitors have been observed walking on the tortoises' feeding platforms. 

Although the two corrals are now off-limits to visitors, guests can still view tortoises at the center from observation and interpretation stations. 

The Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding and Rearing Center is home to over 70 adult tortoises and 925 juveniles. Each month it receives approximately 7,800 visitors.  

The GNPS will monitor the new rule to determine whether it will be suspended or maintained for an indefinite period.

The results of a study of the world’s marine ecosystems published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identify the Galapagos Islands as one of the 20 most important regions for the continued survival of the world's 129 marine mammal populations. 

The study, led by Sandra Pompa of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, identifies 11 "irreplaceable" conservation zones, which contain species found nowhere else. Areas around the Galapagos Islands were included in this list of irreplaceable conservation zones. Other sites in this category include areas around Hawaii, Lake Baikal in Siberia, and the Amazon, Ganges and Yangtze Rivers. 

The study also revealed nine main conservation areas, which contain 84% of the world’s marine mammals. These areas are the coasts of Argentina, Australia, Baja California, northeastern America, Peru, northwestern Africa, South Africa, New Zealand, and Japan. Their analysis also shows that most of these areas are already under pressure from human impacts such as pollution and shipping.

The study split the oceans into 10,000 square kilometer grids and examined the marine mammal species living in each. Each box was then assigned a value based on whether they contained important feeding grounds or if they were in migration routes. The map was correlated with information on human impacts such as climate disruption, ocean-based pollution and commercial shipping.  According to the researchers, 70% of the most impacted areas were near key conservation sites. 

According to Pompa, marine ecosystems around the world are deteriorating rapidly because of habitat degradation, the introduction of exotic species and over-exploitation of natural resources. Several species of marine mammals became extinct in the 20th century, including the Caribbean monk seal, Atlantic gray whale and the Steller's sea cow, because of the trade in their fur, blubber and meat. The researchers believe that the Mexican vaquita, a small porpoise that is endemic to a small area in the most northern part of Baja California, will be the next species to become extinct. It is believed that only 250 individuals still exist in the wild.

On July 8th, 2011 the Ecuadorian Coast Guard rescued the Y/P Albany, an interisland ferry transporting 24 tourists, including four children, after it ran out of fuel eight nautical miles from land. The passengers, who hail from the United States, France, Germany and Ecuador, were unharmed. According to the Coast Guard, the owner of the yacht miscalculated the amount of fuel necessary for the voyage. In addition, the yacht was reportedly over its legal passenger limit at the time of the incident. 

In response, IGTOA sent a letter outlining its concerns about the incident to Oscar Aguirre, Executive Director of Capturgal (the Galapagos Chamber of Tourism). Mr. Aguirre sent a formal letter of complaint about the incident, with IGTOA listed as a co-complainant, to the relevant governmental authorities, including the Ministers of Tourism, Heritage and Environment. 

The safety and well being of visitors to the Galapagos Islands is of paramount importance to IGTOA and its members. Tourism operations in the islands must be carefully monitored and existing rules and regulations must be strictly enforced. Aside from the potential for innocent people to get hurt, this type of incident has the potential to tarnish the reputation of the Galapagos Islands as a safe and well-regulated world-class tourist destination. 

This incident should serve as a reminder to travelers and travel providers who operate tours in the Galapagos to do their research when contracting with local service providers in the islands. We encourage travelers who are interested in booking a Galapagos tour to find an established and reputable Galapagos travel provider by visiting IGTOA's Member Directory. 

On July 18th, the B/P MARY I, and 6 fibras (small open fishing boats) found with it, were captured by the Galapagos National Park’s Sea Ranger 2, with the support of the Navy. The boats were located southeast of Genovesa Island, 20 miles within the boundaries of the Galapagos Marine Reserve at the time of their detention. The boats did not arrive in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal Island on the afternoon of July 19th because of poor sea conditions. At 5:30 pm, following the required legal proceedings of naval authorities, police, and local prosecutors, the holds of the Mary I were inspected.

The inspection was completed at noon on July 20th and initially revealed a total of 357 sharks, 11 mahi-mahi, 9 albacore, and 1 swordfish. The shark species included 286 fox sharks (Alopias superciliosus), 22 blue sharks (Prionace glauca), 40 Galapagos sharks (Carcharinus galapaguensis) 6 hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), 2 tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvieri), and 1 mako shark (Isurus oxirrinchus). 

As required by Ecuadorian law, all of the illegally-caught sharks were returned to the sea today. Three of the 30 arrested fisherman – the captain and two crew members – joined the scientists to witness the burial to ensure transparency in the disposal of their catch. Before returning them to the sea, scientists measured and sexed each shark and took samples for genetic and demographic analysis. They discovered during this process that there were a total of 379 sharks slaughtered, not 357 as originally reported. The dorsal fins had been almost completely severed, so it is believed that they were captured for the in-demand Asian delicacy of shark fin soup.

The arrested fishermen are currently in jail awaiting a hearing where they will face criminal charges. It is illegal to capture, sell and transfer sharks of any kind in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR). In addition, the Special Law for Galapagos, which established the GMR, prohibits industrial fishing activities, including the use of longlines.