The Galapagos Islands
by Jennifer RemetaThe Galapagos Islands, considered a part of Ecuador in northern South America, are situated comfortably in the Pacific Ocean. Consisting of 13 major islands, 8 smaller islands and 107 rocks and islets, this archipelago spans the equator at numerous locations and lies approximately 600 miles due west of Ecuador. Though it is believed that the first actual visitors to the Galapagos Islands were the Chimu (a northern Peruvian culture ruled by the Incas) sometime around 1485, it’s actual discovery is recorded to be in March of 1535, and is attributed to a Dominican by the name of Fray Tomas de Berlangai. In reality, Berlangai’s ship was led off course by strong ocean currents, so his discovery of the islands was completely by accident.
Regardless of its discovery, the Galapagos Islands remained somewhat deserted until the early 1700’s, frequented only as a hideout by certain English pirates. Finding the islands to be rich in both fresh water and additional food sources, the pirates are said to have particularly enjoyed the meat of the giant native tortoises. Towards the end of the 1700’s with industry on the rise throughout the rest of the world, seafarers arrived in search of untapped whale oil resources. They certainly found what they were looking for, and their oil hunting spanned the next one hundred years, bringing about the near extinction of the sperm whale, the fur seal, and the native tortoise.
The most well known visitor to the Galapagos Islands arrived on September 15, 1835. Naturalist Charles Darwin spent over a month gathering extensive information on Galapagos Islands’ animals and ecosystems. He discovered that strains of the same species had developed differently from island to island to better survive in their environment. This discovery played a critical role in the development of Darwin’s evolutionary theory, and was highlighted in the 1859 publication of The Origin of Species. Despite this amazing scientific discovery, the Galapagos Islands remained susceptible to exploitation until the very first protective legislation was passed in 1934. In 1959, a full hundred years after The Origin of Species was published, Ecuador finally declared the archipelago to be a national park, with the only exception being those areas already inhabited by people. The Charles Darwin Foundation was created that same year, and its topmost priorities were (and still are) the conservation of unique species, and the continuance of scientific study.
Despite these continuing conservation efforts, the Galapagos Islands are still facing extreme environmental threats every day, primarily in the form of non-native plants and animals. Many of these introduced life forms were brought along by early settlers, and after decades on the islands they have simply begun to run wild. Wild dogs and cats for instance, originally descended from household pets, have put a severe dent in the wild bird population, preying on birds as well as their nests. An introduced rat species has effectively wiped out the only species of native rat ever to exist on the islands. Guava and avocado plants have invaded large areas on some of the bigger islands, and have actually eliminated some native plants species as a result. Damage is also taking place at the hands of those who travel to Galapagos Islands’ numerous resorts. Though tourists don’t often realize the harm they cause with littering or walking on the reefs, the damage is often irreversible. The tourist trade continues to grow however, though efforts are being made to highlight conservation sights to increase awareness.
As a result of this daily damage, legislation to protect the islands has been forthcoming. The 70,000 square kilometers surrounding the Galapagos Islands was just declared a marine reserve in 1986. In 1990, the area was also designated as a whale sanctuary, giving researchers an ideal place to track and record native whale populations. As long as these and other scientists continue to travel to Galapagos Islands locations for research purposes, conservation efforts will also continue. The knowledge we have already gained from this unique archipelago has helped to shape the very foundation of our understanding of species behavior and development. There is still much to learn however, and it is up to the rest of the world to make sure this precious resource remains for future generations.
