We encountered two tortoises on the western side of Isla Isabela. One retreated into the bushes and the other into its shell.

Whalers were responsible for diminishing and, in some cases, elimating certain species of tortoise. They stacked them by the hundreds in the hulls of their ships because they could survive up to a year without food or water and provided fresh meat for the sailors. It is estimated that whalers removed over 100,000 tortoises from the islands.

Since1965, the Charles Darwin Foundation has operated a tortoise rearing program that has been actively restoring the giant tortoise populations of Galápagos and is now one of the most successful reptile restoration programs in the world. The aim of the program is to prevent extinction by restoring the giant tortoise populations of Galápagosto to their natural levels.





 

 

Land iguana on Isabela with dwelling hole in background.


Large coral head stranded by uplift of Urvina Bay in 1954 during eruption of Alcedo volanco on Isla Isabela. The entire bay rose out of the sea through geologic force.


New Beach created in 1954 by eruption of Alcedo.

 



Rope swinging off the deck of the Andando.

Planet of the iguanas. Marine iguanas clustered together for warmth on Isla Fernandina.

Leaving the Andando for snorkeling.

Snorkeling off Santiago. While snorkeling at various places throughout the trip, our group encountered manta rays, sea lions, turtles, penguins and lots of fish.