The Great Tortoises

Tues. 1/7 - We left ship at 8:30 this morning and spent the whole day on Santa Cruz Island in the town of Puerto Ayora.  At the Darwin Research Center we learned how the eggs are taken from the tortoises and brought to the center to incubate and hatch.  They are kept in enclosed pens for two years and then in open areas for another 5 years to learn how to live in the wild  They are released on Santa Cruz Island or two other Islands to repopulate the archepelago with this very important link in the evolution of these islands.

We shopped in town then a short boat ride to the Finch Bay Eco Hotel for lunch and a rest around their pool. Then we were off to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat.  Just outside of town on a small ranch in the highlands there reside a large number of these giants.  The females come here to be fertilized and then lay eggs near the shore but the males stay here all the time.  We were allowed to walk near the tortoises to photograph them but could not touch them.  One lone female was accosted by an amorous male while we watched.  The sad part was that he mounted her from the wrong end!

This island is lush and green due to its location in the archepelago and was hot and humid even when it rained.  This was in stark contrast to the dry, arid islands we have visited thus far. Santa Cruz was first populated by pirates and whalers but now is the home to native Galapagoans. Our guide is from here but now calls Quito home.