Day Seven: Santa Cruz/Puerto Ayora, Parte Alta
This was the last full day of the trip and we started it by sailing into the largest town on the Galápagos, Puerto Ayora, to visit the Darwin Research Station where a bunch of giant tortoises live. When the park rangers decided to try to rebuild the tortoise population they found just one male who they could place into captivity. I think this was specifically the Santa Cruz tortoise; the species are endemic from island to island. But it was okay because they had a bunch of females, so they put them in the same enclosure and…nothing happened. Apparently the male had been alone for so long he forgot how to socialize, so to speak.
Now a few years back, it wasn’t unheard of for zoos to sail to the Galápagos, pick up a few tortoises, and then haul them back for themselves. So the organization sent out messages to zoos all around the world saying something to the effect of, “so you know those endangered animals you stole from us? Yeah, we’d like them back.” There was only one zoo who responded back saying that they had a Santa Cruz tortoise and that, yes, they would part with him - the San Diego Zoo. According to the zoo, the tortoise they had was, unlike the current tortoise, very good with the lady tortoises. So the tortoise was shipped back to its original home, and the minute he was placed in the enclosure he went about trying to rebuild his population. With the new male, appropriately named Diego, going about his business, the previous male must have thought, “oh, that’s how it’s done,” and started mating as well, so hurray for strengthening a dying population.
Diego, the wonder tortoise. Apparently when Steven Spielberg looked for inspiration for E.T.'s look, he went to the giant tortoise. It's the neck.
Yellow warbler
Another awkward portrait! But not as awkward as the group's awkward turtle photo with the two male turtles trying to mate in the background.
You're allowed to get as close as you want, but you can't touch them...where have I heard that before?
Help! I'm a turtle tortoise and I can't get up!
After lunch we went back to the island to see the highlands of Santa Cruz. The environment was completely different from what we had seen before, as everything was lush and green. We went to a farm where a bunch of giant tortoises hang out, well it used to be a farm, I’m not sure it is anymore, now that they can charge tourists to come and see the tortoises.
Before we got to the farm, we had to pass from the city into the national park. This is the ranger station with what I am assuming are goat hunting dogs.
NOM NOM NOM
Coffee beans, which grow quite well in Ecuador, but most of it is exported, so all that is left is instant. Good thing I'm not a coffee snob.
Then we went to the lava tunnels, which were amazing. I forget how they were formed, something about fast moving lava, and then things sinking, and, oh just look at the pictures.
We couldn't go more than a few meters in because the tunnels have caved in farther down.
Now a few years back, it wasn’t unheard of for zoos to sail to the Galápagos, pick up a few tortoises, and then haul them back for themselves. So the organization sent out messages to zoos all around the world saying something to the effect of, “so you know those endangered animals you stole from us? Yeah, we’d like them back.” There was only one zoo who responded back saying that they had a Santa Cruz tortoise and that, yes, they would part with him - the San Diego Zoo. According to the zoo, the tortoise they had was, unlike the current tortoise, very good with the lady tortoises. So the tortoise was shipped back to its original home, and the minute he was placed in the enclosure he went about trying to rebuild his population. With the new male, appropriately named Diego, going about his business, the previous male must have thought, “oh, that’s how it’s done,” and started mating as well, so hurray for strengthening a dying population.
Diego, the wonder tortoise. Apparently when Steven Spielberg looked for inspiration for E.T.'s look, he went to the giant tortoise. It's the neck.
Yellow warbler
Another awkward portrait! But not as awkward as the group's awkward turtle photo with the two male turtles trying to mate in the background.
You're allowed to get as close as you want, but you can't touch them...where have I heard that before?
Help! I'm a turtle tortoise and I can't get up!
After lunch we went back to the island to see the highlands of Santa Cruz. The environment was completely different from what we had seen before, as everything was lush and green. We went to a farm where a bunch of giant tortoises hang out, well it used to be a farm, I’m not sure it is anymore, now that they can charge tourists to come and see the tortoises.
Before we got to the farm, we had to pass from the city into the national park. This is the ranger station with what I am assuming are goat hunting dogs.
NOM NOM NOM
Coffee beans, which grow quite well in Ecuador, but most of it is exported, so all that is left is instant. Good thing I'm not a coffee snob.
Then we went to the lava tunnels, which were amazing. I forget how they were formed, something about fast moving lava, and then things sinking, and, oh just look at the pictures.
We couldn't go more than a few meters in because the tunnels have caved in farther down.