Santa Cruz: the Darwin Research Station

The  Darwin Research Station, with its breeding center for endangered tortoises and land iguanas, is just outside the town of Puerto Ayora.  Young tortoises of various species are brought here from their native islands, with the point of origin indicated by a numbers painted in various colors on their back.  The young are kept in an incubation area for the first 2 - 3 years of life, depending on size.  There are measures to protect them from rats and other predators. 
 They then are moved to an area where they learn to climb rocks and live more independently; at the age of 4 or 5 they are embedded with a tracking chip; crated up and returned to live in the wild on their native islands.  The research station was the home of Lonesome George for the last 40 years of his life.  He was discovered in 1971, the only tortoise on Pinta Island.  He was moved to the research station, where he shared quarters with two female tortoises from another island in the hope they would breed.  But he died there in 2012 with no offspring, and his species of tortoise became extinct.  His loss has stimulated a vigorous coservation effort.

Baby Tortoises in their Nursery

Color-coded Painted Number Identifies Island of Origin

Older Tortoises Learning "Survival Skills"Before Returning Home

Lunch Time for an Adult Tortoise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is also a breeding program at the station for land iguanas, which are also considered endangered.  

Lonesome Iggy?  Male Land Iguana Living Alone in a Pen

 Female Iguanas Are in the Adjacent Pens.  Conjugal Visits?

With a Youthful Darwin.  Much Better Looking than the Bearded Old Guy We're Used to Seeing Depicted

We took a path from the station down to the water, and observed some other wildlife.

A Rock Lizard

Mangroves Growing Down to the Water

A Group of Sally Lighfoot Crabs

A Sally Lightfoot Crab.  Unlike Most Crabs, They Can Move in All Directions and Hop Some Distance

Marine Iguanas Coming Up to Dry Off

These Iguanas Aren't Endangered

Passed a Cemetary on the Way Back to Town.  As in Other Places With High Water Tables, They Bury Above Ground