Galapagos: Science & Conservation
Program Intern Eric Holtzman shares his pictures & experiences from the Galapagos.
Recently I was lucky enough to travel to the Galapagos Islands, an archipelago composed of volcanic islands that straddle the equator. Going into the trip I was expecting an exciting and informative journey, yet I could have never predicted just how unique and awe inspiring the islands truly are.
The first thing that struck me upon arrival was how the diverse array of wildlife that calls the islands home are utterly unafraid of humans. This is due to the fact that the islands are highly protected and tourism is tightly controlled. Also, there are very few predators for the larger animals (with the Galapagos Hawk being a major exception). In fact, by the end of the trip I felt so comfortable with the animals on the island I didn’t think twice about snorkeling with a large group of sharks!
A highlight of the trip was visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) located on Santa Cruz Island, the second largest of the 13 main islands in the Galapagos. The CDRS works together with the Galapagos National Park Service to promote research and conservation on the islands. When I visited the Research Center I was greeted by many Giant Tortoises, some of which were over 100 years old!
Throughout my time on the trip it was great to see how everyone that lived on the islands and worked at the CDRS was totally committed to protecting the one of a kind environment of the Galapagos. Starting at a young age children born in the Galapagos are taught the importance of protecting the environment and how scientific knowledge is an integral part to understanding and protecting the islands. Galapagos natives approach conservation and scientific understanding with an enthusiasm and passion that was inspiring to see.Take a look at the slideshow of pictures I took and see for yourself!
For kids that don’t grow up in a beautiful natural setting like the Galapagos it can be hard to feel the same level of connection to the natural world. CRS works to instill curiosity for the world around us through cross-curricular science support.