Today we visited the Charles Darwin Research Station located at the end of Puerto Ayora township. Within easy walking distance from the boat, this quite extensive site has breeding facilities for many different species of Giant Land Tortoises and Land Iguanas.
We visited Lonesome George, who is the last remaining member of the species of tortoises from Isla Pinta. He is by himself in a large enclosure with two attractive females of a very closely related species – but alas, he has so far shown no interest.
Photo 1: Lonesome George
We were able to walk among some very big old males rescued from their degraded habitat, and now happily living in the research station. There were hundreds of young tortoises of all sizes in the breeding program that we could observe from outside their enclosures. The young are monitored until they can climb the lava boulders successfully and are then electronically tagged and released back amongst their respective island species when they are about 20 centimetres long.
The Land Iguanas are each in separate enclosures and enjoy hand feeding and lots of visitors. They are quite large and fierce looking with their rusty skin, thick legs and body, but they appeared slow moving, perhaps like our goannas they can run very quickly when required.
Photo 2: Land Iguanas
We also saw many Marine Iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs. These crabs eat the algae off the skin of the Marine Iguanas.
Photo 3: Marine Iguana
Photo 4: Marine Iguanas
Photo 5: Sally Lightfoot Crabs
On our return walk we had a delightful lunch at The Red Mangrove Restaurant overhanging the quiet waters of Academy Bay, close to the tidal harbour sheltering the research vessels from the Darwin Centre.
Photo 6: View from the Red Mangrove Restaurant
Photo 7: Great Blue Heron near the Red Mangrove Restaurant
Tomorrow we visit Floreana Island.
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