Darwin’s Dilemma
Here’s a toast to the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and to one of the greatest civil leaders of all time, Abraham Lincoln. The British adventurer/biologist who brought us the controversial On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, inspired by his travels on the HMS Beagle throughout South America, especially The Galapagos Islands. “Mysteries of Mysteries” a quote coined by Mr. Darwin in awe of the bio diversity of the islands, as he swept through the archipelago 174 years ago and gave his weary sea legs a brief break from his long journey from England. Nowhere in the world can the 168 plants unique to the islands be found on the planet. Unfortunately 60 percent of those are close to extinction, not to mention many of the iconic animal species, like Darwin’s Galapagos Mouse which became extinct in 1996. Currently two of the most formidable environmental obstacles for the island chain are ecotourism, (173,000 visitors in 2008, according to the Galapagos Conservancy), and invasive species brought over from settlers looking for work from the mainland of Ecuador. Darwin once wrote it was difficult to pitch a tent due to the scurrying land iguanas competing for space. Now between the black rats and other feral mammals hitching a ride from a steady stream of shipping, there’s plenty of room to even build a golf course. Scientists at the Charles Darwin Research Station at Santa Cruz Island, are working tirelessly to limit the damage wrought on by humanities incomprehension and avarice. By preserving Darwin’s great find of Galapagos we may very well save our own origins.
February 12th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Nice slideshow, Ramon. Your photos are wrenching. I had no idea 30,000 live there. I knew there was crazy tourism, but not that heavy. Did you see any of the pink iguanas they just documented last month while you were there? Thought one of your pics might have been a pinky couple.(?) As beautiful and strange as they are, they’re on the “critically endangered” list too. Sad to wonder how much out there may have come and gone without us even knowing about it. …But great work! Keep it up, love the site.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Isn’t it interesting that even with the best of intentions, like ecotourism for example, we humans still manage to destroy things.
February 15th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Although I am dying to see Galapagos, I am going to stay home. When you look at the fuel we burn to go places and the impact we make that actually destroys what we are dying to preserve, it makes more sense. That the Galapagos are considering a golf course, like Easter Island was, is insane. If the wealthy want to play golf they can go to any number of places that have already been destroyed for their leisure.