Galapagos Matters Autumn/Winter 2020 by Galapagos Conservation Trust

GALAPAGOSMATTERS

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

COVID-19 in paradise HOPE THE WHALEÂ SHARK

Ten years of tortoises galapagosconservation.org.uk

GALAPAGOSMAT TERS CONTENTS 4-5 6-7 8-11

Wild

Cover Hope the whale shark was tagged in autumn 2019 off Darwin’s Arch in Galapagos. She then travelled more than 3000km away from the Islands and back, providing the longest migration track from a whale shark to date. Sadly, however, her tag stopped transmitting in May 2020 in an area of high industrial fishing effort. © Jonathan Green

Galapagos

News

The potential cost of the pandemic With help from some of GCT’s partners and friends, Clare Simm explores the effects that the COVID-19 lockdown has had in Galapagos both for its residents and wildlife, and what some of the longer-term impacts might be. The latter includes the risk that invasive species such as the fly Philornis downsi pose when not controlled, as Charlotte Causton explains.

12-13 Project Updates 14 UK News 15-17 Whale shark migration

Growing food at home While growing vegetables at home has become a hobby for many of us, in remote places like the Galapagos Islands it is a vital activity. GCT’s Beth Byrne explains the importance behind one of the new projects that has grown up out of the pandemic. A decade of tortoise research The Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme turned ten this year. Henry Nicholls interviews project founder Stephen Blake about what the last decade has done for tortoise conservation.

Global Relevance Due to the pandemic, we are more aware than ever

that our wellbeing is linked to that of the environment. Sharon Deem explores the concept of ‘One Health’, the idea that the health of people, animals and the environment are all connected..

Whale sharks are known to migrate long distances but we still have so much to learn about these endangered fish. However our understanding is increasing thanks to tagged individuals, such as Hope, whose inspiring, but sad, story Jonathan Green tells.

21-23 Mand Merchandise embership, Reviews, Events

CONTRIBUTORS

Charlotte Causton is a senior research scientist at the Charles Darwin Foundation with extensive experience in developing methods for controlling invasive insects in Galapagos. She is currently coordinating an international effort to develop methods to control the invasive avian parasitic fly, Philornis downsi, which is threatening many endemic bird species in the Archipelago.

GALAPAGOS MAT TERS

Jonathan Green is a qualified naturalist guide, dive master and elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of London who has been working in Galapagos for over 25 years. In 2011, he set up the Galapagos Whale Shark Project to monitor and study whale sharks in the Islands.

Having worked in Central Africa for over 15 years on a variety of conservation issues, Stephen Blake moved to Galapagos in 2008. He established the Giant Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme (GTMEP) in 2010 to conduct research on the movements of Galapagos tortoises.

Sharon Deem is a wildlife veterinarian, epidemiologist and the director of the Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine. She has conducted projects in over 30 counties, including over a decade of working in Galapagos. Much of her work focuses on diseases shared between domestic animals, wildlife and people.

FROM THE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE S

by Sharon Johnson

ince the last issue of Galapagos Matters, the lives of people living in Galapagos have changed dramatically, like many around the world. In mid-March, the Islands went into complete lockdown, including an overnight curfew; non-residents were evacuated, and all conservation fieldwork stopped.

This has had a huge impact on the residents’ lives, as you can read on pages 8-11, as well as on our projects. We had to adjust fieldwork and science programmes rapidly, providing additional support to our team on the Islands to enable them to continue their vital work. While a pause in tourism provided some respite for the Archipelago’s fragile ecosystems, it brought economic hardship for the locals and the risk of illegal fishing and poaching. Knowing this is a real threat, and with support from everyone who donated to our emergency appeal, we got straight to work - reworking our educational and outreach materials in a bid to stop people turning to illegal activities; providing funding for essential PPE to safeguard locals during food production; and giving Galapagueños the tools to grow their own food (p. 18). Thank you to everyone who donated during this time. Our work to fight the impact of COVID-19 doesn’t stop there. As you will read on page 17, an immediate threat to Galapagos’ wildlife came from outside the boundary of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. An international fishing fleet has descended, threatening vulnerable

migratory marine species. We are ramping up our efforts for increased protection of important migratory routes, including the creation of a protected swimway between Galapagos and Cocos Island, Costa Rica, which we’ve been supporting since 2018. There are other projects that need our urgent help too. The Mangrove Finch Project team was evacuated less than halfway through their field season, meaning they could not provide the protection this critically endangered finch needs against the invasive fly, Philornis downsi. It is even more crucial the team returns to the field in early 2021 to ensure the survival of the rarest finch in Galapagos and we need your help to make this happen (p. 22). On a more positive note, despite lockdown cutting short their field work, the Little Vermilion Flycatcher Project team was thrilled to find six chicks had hatched on Santa Cruz in nests that had been treated for P. downsi (p. 12). The recent upheaval caused by the pandemic has meant adjusting to new ways of working for our UK staff members too. At the time of going to press, we are all still working from home and we are continuing to re-evaluate how we do things. It is

more important than ever that we stay in touch with you in ways that work for you, so please fill in our survey to let us know how you wish to receive communications from us in the future (p. 23). I will be sad not to see you in person this year at Galapagos Day. However, we will be running the event online instead, which I hope will not only help you remember the exquisite beauty of the Islands but it will give you the opportunity to hear more about what we are doing to reduce these increasing threats to Galapagos’ unique wildlife. I very much hope you will be able to join us (p. 23). Thank you once again for your continuing support. It really is heartwarming to have so many loyal friends. It has meant so much to us and, as you will see on the back page, it has been critically important for our partners fighting on the frontline of conservation in Galapagos. Thank you so much from us all.

Sharon Johnson

Galapagos Matters is a copyright biannual publication produced for members of the Galapagos Conservation Trust. The information in this issue was ISSN 2050-6074 Galapagos Designer: The Graphic Design House obtained from various sources, all Matters is printed on paper Printer: Bishops Printers of which have extensive knowledge made from well managed forests 020 7399 7440 of Galapagos, but neither GCT nor and controlled sources. gct@gct.org the contributors are responsible Editor: Henry Nicholls www.galapagosconservation.org.uk for the accuracy of the contents or Chief Executive: Sharon Johnson the opinions expressed herein. Communications and Marketing Manager: Clare Simm

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

WILD GALAPAGOS This Galapagos short-eared owl was awaiting GCT supporter Sarah Ahern on South Plaza island. She recalls how it appeared completely unphased by their presence, which is perfectly captured in this stunning image. One of two endemic owl species on the Islands, the Galapagos short-eared owl is often spotted flying low over lava rocks and grassland whilst hunting for rats, lava lizards and birds.

Our 2021 calendar is now available for pre-order and contains this and more incredible photographs from the 2020 Galapagos Photography Competition – find out more on page 23. Our 2021 competition will be opening for entries in late October, so don’t forget to enter your best Galapagos images for a chance to win!

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

COVID1 9 IN NEWS GALAPAGOS

GALAPAGOS

t was a shock, if not a surprise, when COVID-19 reached the Galapagos Islands. The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of the disease a pandemic on 11 March 2020 and shortly after, on 14 March, Ecuador shut its borders to the world. Flights to Galapagos were stopped almost immediately but the country confirmed its first cases on 18 March. A curfew was introduced on the Islands between 14:00 and 5:00 to try to reduce the potential spread of the disease and the Islands went into lockdown. Sadly, by 23 March the first four cases were confirmed in Galapagos thought to be residents who had returned from

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

Guayaquil on the mainland. There were worries that the fragile health system on Galapagos would be overwhelmed. Usually anyone with severe health issues is flown to the mainland. Thankfully the cases increased slowly. By 10 April, the government reported 10 confirmed cases in Galapagos – six on San Cristobal, three on Santa Cruz and one on Isabela. Two Galapagueños were also reported to be ill on the mainland. Of these 12, there were two deaths – one in Santa Cruz and one on the mainland. By 1 May, 107 cases were confirmed, including 57 cases on three boats moored within the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Residents from

the mainland were starting to be repatriated but no one was allowed to fly without testing negative for the disease. By 4 June the cases had only risen by another 14, including cases on another two boats and accordingly, the curfew was relaxed to 21:00 – 5:00. Sadly, despite the precautions being taken, a further case was found on San Cristobal on 12 June and five more on Santa Cruz on 18 June in people who had returned on repatriation flights. Tourist sites re-opened in mid-July and, at the time of writing, there are plans for flights and cruises to resume in August 2020, however this is subject to change.

FERAL CATS POSE A THREAT TO GALAPAGOS WILDLIFE

NEW GNP DIRECTOR

he Galapagos National Park (GNP) gained a new director on 1 March 2020, Danny Rueda Córdova. An engineer specialising in socio-economic development and environment, Mr Rueda has spent 20 years working in protected areas. Over the last ten years, he was the Director of Ecosystems for the GNP, responsible for planning the management of protected marine and terrestrial areas. The previous director of the GNP, Jorge Carrión, is now the Principal Investigator on our Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme.

The new director of the Galapagos National Park Danny Rueda © GNP

ILLEGAL FISHING

tonnes of shark fins were seized by Hong Kong customs officials in May 2020, found inside two shipping containers from Ecuador and thought to be worth US$1.1 million. This seizure, which included fins from scalloped hammerhead sharks, is more than double the 12 tonnes of shark fins seized in Hong Kong in all of 2019. This year, researchers have, for the first time, been able to trace shark fins from the retail market in Hong Kong back to the location where the sharks were caught. Scalloped hammerheads, now critically endangered, are the most common and valuable species in the trade. This new research revealed that the majority of fins originated in the Eastern Pacific, an area with a lot of industrial fishing, including fleets from China. In June 2020, the arrival of around 260 Chinese ships, prompted the Ecuadorian government to look into improving the protection around Galapagos, including the possibility of increasing the Ecuadorian Exclusive Economic Zone. This is a pivotal time for ensuring that key areas get the protection they need to help conserve threatened marine species.

N Diego the tortoise back on Española © Andrés Cruz, GTRI - Galapagos Conservancy

DIEGO RETURNS HOME TO ESPAÑOLA

n June 2020, 15 giant tortoises returned to Española, the only individuals from this island to survive centuries of exploitation by passing mariners. For the past 55 years, these tortoises were part of a breeding programme, where they produced more than 2,000 offspring to save the Chelonoidis hoodensis species from extinction. Among the 15 tortoises was the famous Diego who, after several decades of living at San Diego Zoo, was returned to Galapagos in 1976 to take part in the breeding programme. At over 120 years old, he will live out his retirement on Española with his descendants who have been released to the island over the last several decades.

RARE SIGHTING OF RAIL CHICKS

he Charles Darwin Foundation’s Landbird Conservation Group with the support of the Galapagos National Park Directorate undertook a landbird population census on Santiago island, including Galapagos rails, in February 2020. This year the team was lucky to be there at the height of their breeding season and saw a number of Galapagos rail chicks, which is rare as they are normally very secretive birds. Santiago is thought to have the largest population of Galapagos rails in the Archipelago, and these sightings confirm that they are doing well on the island. The Galapagos rail is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to threats including invasive predators and habitat destruction. They are found on six islands, including Santiago, and are locally extinct on San Cristobal and Floreana.

Galapagos rail chick on Santiago © Michael Dvorak, CDF

ew research by Amy McLeod investigated the threat of feral cats on San Cristobal to local wildlife. Using GPS collars to track where these cats were going, the research found that the cats are a significant threat to a range of species but particularly marine iguana hatchlings. McLeod believes that the cats might also take advantage of the emergence of hatchling green turtles. The full paper is available online: rdcu.be/b3Rp8

Feral cat with marine iguana hatchling © Caroline Marmion

NEW LEGISLATION FOR SHARKS

n June 2020, the Ministry of Production and Fisheries in Ecuador announced a multi-pronged approach to protect sharks, a result for which GCT’s project partner Dr Alex Hearn has played an integral role. “Ecuador condemns any act related to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, especially when these acts are linked to such a sensitive and important species in marine ecosystems as the shark,” announced the Ministry, adding that the sale and export of five new shark species will be prohibited, including the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead shark.

HOPE SPOT

vital underwater migration highway that connects the Galapagos Marine Reserve in Ecuador and the Cocos Island National Park in Costa Rica has been declared a Mission Blue Hope Spot. Galapagos Conservation Trust has been supporting the proposed Cocos-Galapagos Swimway since 2018 by helping our science partners gather essential evidence needed to drive forward the creation of this 120,000 km² area, which is critical for protecting endangered Galapagos marine species including whale sharks. galapagosconservation.org.uk/proposedprotected-swimway-between-galapagosand-costa-rica-declared-a-hope-spot/

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

PANDEMIC IN PARADISE by Clare Simm

ife under COVID-19 has affected almost everyone around the world, with huge swathes of the global population having gone through some version of a lockdown, and Galapagos is no exception. Ecuador shut its borders and stopped flights to Galapagos on 16 March, but it was too late to prevent the virus reaching the Islands.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

Galapagos guide Pablo Valladares was on his way back from holiday in Nicaragua when he found himself trapped in Guayaquil, a city then experiencing an alarming rise in the number of new coronavirus cases. “We initially thought that we would get back to Galapagos within a matter of weeks, but we were still in Guayaquil more than two months later,” says Valladares. “In Galapagos, we are used to being active and watching the amazing wildlife. Even in our backyard, we have finches, yellow warblers, lava lizards and racer snakes. In Guayaquil, we were fortunate to be able to stay with my sister, but how would we manage confined to a flat in Ecuador’s second largest city?” From the windows of the flat, he could see green hills and a magnificent Ceiba tree across the street that was a draw for birds. “One of the things that brought real happiness was watching red-headed parrots flying in the morning,” he says. As each week passed, the longing that Pablo and his family felt for Galapagos grew and grew.

However, they were just some of the 3000 Galapagos residents who had been trapped on the mainland. “It was only after 68 days in lockdown that we were allowed to return. When the plane eventually touched down in Galapagos, it was like being born again.” Thanks to the measures taken by the Ecuadorian government, the cases of COVID-19 identified in Galapagos did not overwhelm the fragile medical system on the Islands. However, lockdown restrictions were very strict. “Between 2pm to 5am, there was a total curfew,” says Anne Guezou, GCT’s Education and Outreach Coordinator who is based on Santa Cruz. “We had no access to beaches or the National Park and there were no flights to the mainland at all. I felt very restricted,” she says. “Also, there was the worry that if many people got sick, we were not equipped to provide intensive care.” With only a few shops open for food and other basic supplies, islanders became more resourceful, with local initiatives and entrepreneurs springing up to supply the

“Some people are taking advantage of the situation for their own benefit.”

View from the flat in Guayaquil that Pablo Valladares and his family spent their time © Pablo Valladares

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

OUR RESPONSE TO THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC

With your crucial support, we ramped up our educational and outreach activities in a bid to stop people turning to illegal activities; we provided funding for essential PPE to safeguard locals when producing food; we were able to continue vital funding of our ongoing species projects; and we are doubling our efforts to support the creation of newly protected swimways in response to the threat of industrial fishing fleets on the boundary of the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

There is a risk that lockdown will have affected the survival of animals such as Galapagos giant tortoise hatchlings which are threatened by invasive species © GTMEP

community. “Local farmers distributed products door-to-door and fish was always available,” says Ainoa Nieto Claudin, wildlife veterinarian and researcher at the Charles Darwin Foundation. “Our diet changed since we were not able to find the same variety, but also improved as we ate more local and organic food.” But there was a dark side to the lockdown too, she notes. “Violence against women and children increased dramatically during lockdown, with a woman killed by her partner in Puerto Ayora. There have been protests against the local authorities due to the economic crisis and some people are taking advantage of the situation for their own benefit.” The most widespread impact of the shutdown, however, has been the interruption to international tourism, the sector that underpins the majority of livelihoods in Galapagos. “With no tourists we have had to close our office, our boat is at anchor in the bay and our employees have no work,” says Manuel Yepez Revelo, the owner of Galapagos Sharksky Travel and Conservation, a small tourism company based on San Cristobal. With the business losing money, Revelo had to be inventive to make ends meet. “I started a new business, selling fish from my scooter house-to-house.” By mid-June, the incidence of COVID-19 in the Islands had stabilised, the curfew and other restrictions were easing, and researchers and conservationists were beginning to return to work. However, the interruption to fieldwork could have long-term impacts on the wildlife of Galapagos. “My main concern is the unknown, and likely negative, consequences on the survival or restoration of species or populations such as the mangrove finch, vermilion flycatcher and giant tortoise hatchlings. Disruption of data collection for long-term studies may render some data sets useless for analysis,” says Guezou. Disruption to funding streams could also impact key conservation initiatives, she says, including the project to restore Floreana and the research into the impacts of the invasive parasitic fly Philornis downsi (see Box).

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

Another concern is that in the wake of the virus there could be an increase in uncontrolled development in an effort to compensate for lost earnings. “I am afraid that the pandemic will be used to support management decisions that will go against conservation,” says Nieto. In fact, the upheaval has created new opportunities that must be seized, she says. “Lockdown has given us the perfect scenario to start over and do things better. We need to learn from our experiences and create new rules to ensure social and ecological sustainability for Galapagos.” Birgit Fessl, coordinator of the Galapagos Land Bird Conservation Plan at the Charles Darwin Foundation, agrees that now is the time to increase protection. “I consider invasive species to be the biggest threat for the wildlife in Galapagos. More support must be given to strengthen biosecurity at the borders of Galapagos and stop new species getting in either by accident or by people bringing them in.” For GCT Ambassador Godfrey Merlen, the absence of the usual human bustle has allowed him to see these Islands in a

way he’s never seen them before. “The sky has been swept with a deeper blue. The mangroves stand out with even brighter greens. The waves crest with a dazzling white and the crashing sound is louder in my ears. There is bird song everywhere,” he says. “The adversity posed by sudden cessation of the never-ending arrival of visitors has brought many in the Galapagos community closer to each other and to the precious natural world around us.”

Now is the time to increase protection against invasive species such as blackberry © Ana Mireya Guerrero

We need to avoid an increase in unsustainable activities due to many people losing their jobs © Eva Horvath-Papp

HOW TO CONTROL A PARASITE The micro wasp, Conura annulifera, parasitises pupae of Philornis species on mainland Ecuador and is a potential candidate for use in a biological control program against P. downsi. © Dave Hansen, UMN

by Charlotte Causton As we made preparations for this year’s fieldwork, the weather was our biggest concern. Little did we know that there would be a global pandemic that would shut down research for three-and-a-half months in the middle of the bird-breeding season, a crucial window for testing methods to control the invasive parasitic fly Philornis downsi, enemy number one of the smaller Galapagos landbirds. These invasive flies, introduced from mainland Ecuador by accident, are experts at locating bird nests, where they lay their own eggs. Once the maggots hatch, they feed off the blood of young chicks, sometimes killing an entire brood. To date, P. downsi is known to attack 21 different landbirds, more than half of which are species of Galapagos finch, and is a serious threat to the survival of at least six species including the critically endangered mangrove finch. The parasitic fly also threatens some populations of the little vermilion flycatcher, the most colourful landbird in Galapagos.

Philornis downsi is one of the key threats to the critically endangered mangrove finch. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the Mangrove Finch Project team was not able to provide the protection that the chicks needed in the 2020 season, so it is unlikely that many fledged successfully. We need to ensure that the team can return in 2021 so that they can combat P. downsi as well as control the invasive rat population that is also a threat to the birds. Please help us to ensure the survival of these rare birds and the other unique wildlife of Galapagos by supporting our appeal today. You can read more about the appeal on page 22.

In a race against time, the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and the Galapagos National Park (GNP) are coordinating a multi-institutional and multi-country project to research the biology and ecology of this little-known fly, with a view to developing effective, environmentally friendly means of control. One promising approach is biological control, which involves introducing one of the fly’s natural enemies from its native range to the Archipelago. Exploratory surveys on mainland Ecuador, led by the University of Minnesota and CDF, have identified a small wasp, Conura annulifera, that is itself a parasite of P. downsi. After five years of careful work, results indicate that this wasp is a Philornis specialist. We now have the go-ahead to bring a small number of wasps into a quarantine facility in Galapagos in order to assess whether it is safe to introduce the wasp to the Islands. In the meantime, we need to deploy other tools to protect the nests of those species at the greatest risk of extinction. Before COVID-19 brought put an end to our fieldwork this year, we were fortunate

to have completed some trials injecting a small amount of an insecticide into the base of the nests where the bloodfeeding larvae reside when they are not feeding on the chicks. This work, carried out by CDF, GNP and the University of Vienna, has significantly increased the survival of chicks from four threatened bird species, including the mangrove finch and the little vermilion flycatcher. In collaboration with scientists from SUNY-ESF and Syracuse University, we are also investigating whether we can use fly pheromones and bird odours to lure adult Philornis flies down from the canopy and into traps. All our efforts to control this deadly parasite require a mix of ingenuity and perseverance. We are fortunate to be working with a large group of dedicated scientists who are not deterred by setbacks like that posed by COVID-19 and who will continue the work to ensure the conservation of the unique landbirds of Galapagos.

Philornis downsi larvae feed on the blood of bird hatchlings, often causing all of the chicks in a nest to die. © Henri Herrera, CDF

Protecting bird hatchlings from P. downsi is difficult because nests are typically found high up in the tree canopy. © Agustin Gutierrez, CDF

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

PROJECT

UPDATES

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR THE SAVING THE LITTLE VERMILION FLYCATCHER PROJECT

Female little vermilion flycatcher feeding chicks © David Anchundia, CDF

Clearing invasive vegetation from little vermilion flycatcher breeding areas © Agustin Gutierrez, CDF

ast year we featured the striking black and red plumage of the little vermilion flycatcher on the cover of Galapagos Matters (Autumn/Winter 2019 issue), alongside the launch of our ‘Save Darwin’s Birds’ appeal. With your help, the first year of the ‘Saving the Little Vermilion Flycatcher’ project on Santa Cruz has been a great success despite the challenges the team has faced, so thank you to everyone who supported the project.

t has only been three decades since the little vermilion flycatcher was a common sight on Santa Cruz. Since then, their numbers have dramatically decreased with only 40 breeding pairs now found on the island. In response to these declines, the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park Directorate, in collaboration with University of Vienna, launched a three-year conservation programme in 2019. The team identified six plots in key flycatcher habitat to focus their objectives and help mitigate against the main threats to the population on Santa Cruz. Firstly, the team began restoration of the plots to improve access to vital feeding grounds. The insects crucial for chick rearing are lacking in areas heavily invaded by plant species like non-native blackberry. Furthermore, blackberry forms a dense understory leaving few open areas near the ground for adults to hunt. During the year, local workers and Park rangers continued to clear areas of invasive blackberry and sauco plants to allow native, endemic plants to grow freely. This work demands continuous effort, as invasive plants can quickly reinvade. Although all activities had to be stopped in March 2020 due to COVID-19, thankfully four out of the six plots were fully cleared prior to lockdown, ensuring the birds could benefit from improved hunting conditions for longer. Reducing predator pressure via rat control is the team’s second key

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

objective. After placing bait stations in the six plots last October, only one nest out of eleven (9%) failed due to predation in comparison to 22% of nests outside of the controlled plots. Further work to verify these findings will be undertaken during the next field session. Their final objective is to increase the fledging success of flycatcher nests. To do this, the team captured and banded ten individual birds, racked up over 80 hours of nest observations, and treated twelve nests with insecticide to reduce the impact of the invasive parasitic fly Philornis downsi (read more on page 11). The team saw the successful fledging of six chicks from three nests, all of which had been treated with insecticide. Again, fieldwork was stopped before the team managed to collect all the data on failed nests meaning data collection during the 2021 field season is even more important for these birds. In just the first year of implementing these conservation actions, the team has already managed to improve the breeding success for these beautiful birds compared to previous years, despite activities being suspended during lockdown. As Galapagos relaxes movement restrictions, scientists are returning to the field as quickly and safely as possible to resume clearing the plots and monitoring these vulnerable birds prior to the start of the next breeding season in November.

Taking health stats and key measurements of a marine iguana at La Lobería colony, San Cristobal © Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez

INVESTIGATING PLASTIC POLLUTION THREATS TO MARINE IGUANAS

PhD researcher at the University of the Sunshine Coast, undertook fieldwork to quantify the pollution risk for marine iguanas and provide recommendations to the Galapagos National Park (GNP) for ongoing monitoring and conservation. Key questions include i) whether marine iguanas are ingesting plastics, ii) if location affects the probability of micro and macroplastic exposure and ingestion, and iii) whether plastics affect marine iguana health. During fieldwork, the team visited ten distinct marine iguana habitats, covering four sub-species across four islands. Data were collected to establish a baseline for large plastic items at these sites (and potential entanglement risk), using methods co-developed with the GNP rangers and our Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos research network. At each site, food availability was surveyed including any instances where marine algae interact with plastic (such as with fishing lines). Faecal samples from 98 marine iguanas were taken to investigate exposure to plastics in their diet and to complement comprehensive health surveys of these individuals. We will compare more pristine, remote sites on Fernandina and Isabela in the west of the Archipelago to the more polluted sites on San Cristobal and Floreana, which also face greater pressures from invasive species. Analysis of the data and samples is currently underway, and results will feed into a hotspot risk map that will help to identify the sites in need of priority conservation to ensure marine iguanas are protected.

arine iguanas are an iconic, endemic species in Galapagos, known for their incredible diving ability to feed on marine algae. The species are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; however 10 of 11 subspecies are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered. It is estimated that the San Cristobal marine iguana colony stands at just 400 individuals. Threats to marine iguanas include El Niño events, where their main algae diet disappears, and predation by introduced species such as cats and dogs. From the MV Jessica oil spill in 2001 we also know that marine iguanas are very sensitive to toxic threats. A study by Martin Wikelski and colleagues in 2002 found trace amounts of oil pollution from this spill caused a 62% die off in the Santa Fe colony. However, more recently, scientists have been asking how plastics and associated toxins (microplastics often accumulate toxins on their surface) might be impacting marine iguanas. A wildlife:plastics risk assessment by our partners at the University of Exeter identified marine iguanas as high risk for both plastic ingestion and entanglement. In response to this, between June and September 2019, Jen Jones, GCT’s Head of Programmes and PhD researcher at the University of Exeter, and Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez, Ecuadorian

IDENTIFYING PLASTIC SOURCES, PATHWAYS AND SINKS A

key element of our Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos programme is identifying where plastics reaching the Galapagos Islands are coming from, so we can pinpoint the most effective interventions to reduce the sources of pollution. This needs a combination of approaches, including predictions from oceanographic models and checking what is being found on the beaches. In 2019, research into developing a plastic flow model for Galapagos began, led by our partner and oceanographer Dr Erik van Sebille from the University of Utrecht. Early modelling work, together with beach surveys of plastics by a Galapagos National Park team, is giving us the first picture of pollution sources. We now know, in general terms, that the sources are (in order of scale) likely to be a few areas of the mainland - mostly northern Peru and southern Ecuador, marine industries - fishing in particular – and, to a much lesser extent, from Galapagos itself. These findings support calls for a regional approach to tackling this issue in the Eastern Pacific to reduce the amount of plastic arriving on Galapagos’ coastlines. Thousands of pieces of plastic wash up on the Islands’ beaches each year. Clean-up trips alone collect about eight tonnes each year but this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Marine iguana (male in the breeding season) on the lookout in San Cristobal © Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez

Information from these trips is being supplemented by regular citizen science and drone-based surveys to help verify the model’s results and increase the accuracy of future predictions. We are also undertaking archaeological studies of collected plastic items, a discipline known as ‘garbology’ where the ‘life history’ of an item is investigated to strengthen our insight into the item’s origins and journey to Galapagos. Interestingly, local observations and preliminary studies, led by archaeologist Prof. John Schofield at the University of York, have reported numerous items with Asian labels. Erik’s modelling indicates items from continental Asia would not reach Galapagos by ocean currents, so this pollution is likely originating from a much closer source, probably the fishing fleets that operate in international waters near Galapagos. This is further supported by the items’ ‘fresh’ appearance (i.e. they were not at sea for long) and has raised important questions for marine industry waste management practices. We are now developing a high-resolution oceanography model that will, in addition to pinpointing sources more accurately, show how plastic pollution moves within the Galapagos Marine Reserve once it has arrived. This will help us focus beach cleanup efforts in a timely manner, minimising risks to wildlife and removing items before they break into microplastics that can never be removed. Garbology investigations are scaling up as well, including developing methods to involve remote citizen scientists to accelerate analysis into the life histories of items found on Galapagos beaches.

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

NEWS 2.6 CHALLENGE T

hank you to everyone who took part in the 2.6 Challenge on Sunday 26 April which would have been the day of the London Marathon. With your help, we raised over £500! There were some fantastic fundraising attempts. GCT supporter Dougie Poynter from McFly filmed himself putting on 26 jumpers, one of our supporters did 26 volleys, and another 26 planks in 26 minutes! Nine month old baby Esther took 26 steps and Lina, aged 7 (whose mum works for our tourism partner Andean Trails), did a 2.6 km run. She had never run before but trained specifically for this challenge!

GUIDED READING SESSION FOR HOME LEARNING AND TEACHERS S

torytelling is a fantastic way to engage children in science and conservation. That’s why we have launched a free six-part guided reading session designed for readers aged between 7-11. These resources are for teachers, parents and carers and were developed by our Education Officer, Sarah Langford, based on our storybook Marti the Hammerhead Shark: A Galapagos Journey. The downloadable pack will give you all the resources you need to be able to teach, inspire and discuss Marti’s story with children whether at home or in the classroom. The book is now available to download for free as part of the pack, but you can also buy a hard copy through our online shop. Why not take this opportunity to learn, together, about the animals that call the waters around Galapagos home as well as the threats that these species face. bit.ly/MartiGuidedReading

GALAPAGOS ON BBC NEWS A

HOW DO YOU WANT US TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU? T

he pandemic has given us a chance to review the way we work, and how we communicate with our supporters. With many people now working at home, and more resources moving online, we want to give you the opportunity to let us know how you feel about digital communications. It is important that as many of you as possible let us know your views – details can be found on the back slip (p.23).

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

s you will have seen earlier on page 7, around 260 Chinese industrial fishing vessels were spotted on the edge of the Galapagos Marine Reserve in June, which is a shocking annual occurrence. On 17 July, the Galapagos Islands featured on the BBC News. President of the Governing Council of Galapagos, Norman Wray, and our Endangered Sharks of Galapagos partner, Dr Alex Hearn, were interviewed about these ships, and what the implications might be for vulnerable migratory species such as whale and hammerhead sharks. They also discussed how a large percentage of plastic pollution found on the Islands is of Asian origin, and the fact that these probably came from the Chinese fleet. You can watch the interviews on YouTube: youtu.be/b2EGEvxwXJw

IN PURSUIT OF HOPE By Jonathan Green

Tagging a whale shark ÂŠ Simon Pierce

t was dawn off Darwin, the most northerly of all the islands in Galapagos, as we prepared for the first dive of the day on 5 September 2019.

he conditions had not been in our favour and a powerful southerly current made the diving conditions difficult, threatening to pull us away from the protection of Darwinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arch and into the treacherous open ocean. Beneath the water, we spread out along the lava ledges, hugging the rock and maintaining visual contact, watching and waiting. Within minutes, the unmistakable shadow of a whale shark passed over us from the north. We let go of the wall in unison, swimming upwards towards the

subadult female and succeeded in attaching a satellite tag without her even noticing. Hanging just below the surface, we watched as the outline of this shark slowly dissolved before us, taking tag #184027 with her into the void. It was almost two weeks later, back in port and with an internet connection, that we picked up the signal from this whale shark, an individual we decided to name Hope. Shortly after our encounter, she set out on a route that has now become familiar.

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

IN PURSUIT OF HOPE

Darwin's Arch is where most of the whale sharks are tagged © Jonathan Green

Just north of Darwin (1), (see map above) some 2000 metres beneath the surface, lies the Galapagos Rift, an East-West tectonic divide in the ocean floor between the Cocos Plate to the north and the Nazca Plate to the south. At this landmark, Hope turned to the west like other whale sharks before her, apparently tracking the Rift out into the open Pacific. Hope continued her westerly travels until the last days of December, by which time she’d carried her tag over 3000 km from Darwin’s Arch. She looped back on herself (5) and headed southeast down to the East Pacific Rise, the fissure between the Pacific Plate to the west and the Nazca Plate to the east (6). Then, at the beginning of March this year, she dived and swam due east, resurfacing after some 500 km as if heading back towards Galapagos (7). But instead of making a single-loop migration as we imagined, she made a dramatic U-turn and swam west once more and in mid-May

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

what happened to her and cannot be sure that she was captured. However, in previous years, two smaller female sharks we were tracking both stopped transmitting in this same patch of water. Whatever has happened, Hope has made history. She had covered, as the crow flies, the greatest distance that any of our tagged Galapagos whale sharks has travelled. She will, of course, have moved even further than this, as the satellite tag – which only transmits at the surface – can tell us nothing about the twists and turns she may have taken when out of range in the cold depths. Hope’s migration brings us closer to understanding the many factors – submarine geological features, water temperature, food availability and the drive to reproduce – that underlie the decisions these gentle giants make as they navigate the ocean. This is key to their conservation, as it is only with these insights that we will know when and why whale sharks are particularly vulnerable and how we can protect them throughout their incredible long-distance lives.

she re-crossed her own track from several months earlier (8). Hope’s last transmission came at the end of May (9). We do not know why we lost touch at this point in her travels. It’s possible This project is part of our Endangered that she dived down to 1800m or more, a Sharks of Galapagos Programme and depth at which the extreme pressure would benefits from the support of the Prince have crushed the satellite tag. Alternatively, Albert II of Monaco Foundation and worryingly, she may have encountered (www.fpa2.org). one of the many industrial fishing fleets that make this area one of the most intensely fished regions of the Pacific. After a month of no news, the team decided to check her last transmission. The data suggest that the tag was fully out of the water and that it was travelling much faster than the maximum speed of a whale shark. Despite being the largest fish in the ocean, little We cannot say for certain is known about whale sharks © Jonathan Green

INDUSTRIAL FISHING The disappearance earlier this year of Hope captured global interest, especially as her tag stopped working in an area of high industrial fishing effort. Every year industrial fishing fleets gather between the boundary of the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) and the Ecuadorian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to make the most of the abundance of fish. There are serious concerns for the marine wildlife of Galapagos as many migratory species, including whale sharks, leave the safety of the GMR to travel to foraging and breeding grounds. The arrival of around 260 Chinese fishing vessels in June 2020 has led to the Ecuadorian government working on a ‘protection strategy’ for the Galapagos Islands, which could include extending both the EEZ and the GMR to cut off the corridor of international waters between the two areas. GCT and our project partners are very much hoping this becomes a reality and will do everything we can to support these efforts.

By tagging whale sharks we are starting to understand where they go, and why © Simon Pierce

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

FOOD FOR THOUGHT by Beth Byrne

Harvesting maracuya (passionfruit) © Ashleigh Klingman

This project is a chance for the family to learn about gardening together © Ashleigh Klingman

n the first few weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown, hundreds of thousands of people in the UK searched online for advice on how to start a vegetable patch or grow fruit in containers. At Galapagos Conservation Trust, we were no exception, with several staff members taking the opportunity to grow tomatoes, courgettes and other vegetables.

While for many people growing vegetables at home has become an increasingly popular hobby, the ability to cultivate your own food is so much more critical in isolated places like the Galapagos Islands. Due to the pandemic, residents in Galapagos have been feeling the burden of lost income since the shutdown of tourism, which makes up more than 80% of the local economy. The poverty rate on the Islands will likely climb in 2020 – before the pandemic 8% of families were already living below the poverty line – meaning homegrown food is more critical than ever. Hacienda Tranquila, SA (HTSA) “Peaceful Ranch” is a sustainable agricultural farm on San Cristobal. They noticed the need for increased food security and to support

Lecocarpus darwinii © Ashleigh Klingman

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

local families during this difficult time. 97% of the Islands is designated as National Park, which leaves just 3% for community life including farming, and many families do not live in homes with accessible green space. Approximately 75% of the fresh food consumed in Galapagos is imported from the mainland. With transportation restrictions in place, access to food has been increasingly limited and significantly more expensive. It is so important to encourage and support local people as they learn to grow their own food so they can become selfsufficient. In addition to the socio-economic benefits, there is substantial research which shows that people who connect with nature as children develop stronger conservation and sustainability values. They are more likely to protect the environment when they grow up. 40% of the 30,000 Galapagueños are under 15 years old and these young people are vital for building a culture of sustainable living and environmental awareness. With our project partners HTSA, the Urban Family Gardening for Tranquillity 2020 project is using gardening to tackle food security during COVID-19. The project will harness HTSA’s skill of building community through purposeful humannature interactions and deepen the respect for nature with local families. It will develop a network by providing teachers with educational gardening packs and take this

opportunity to support families while they adjust to the post-COVID world by helping them make their patios into a tranquil garden refuge. The educational gardening packs produced will contain fun yoga activity cards and creative character information cards that accompany two edible and two endemic plant seedlings. The project also looks to promote proper nutrition and creative cooking with a social media campaign to improve and vary diets, weekly recipe webinars and encourage sharing of recipes to inspire and motivate families. At the end of the project families will evaluate how their garden has performed and the connections they have forged with one another and nature. By facilitating the opportunity for families to grow their own food, we can help mitigate some of the financial hardship the Galapagos community faces from the sudden halt in tourism. Also, by increasing the accessibility of nature, we will inspire families and instil passion in the future ambassadors of Galapagos for the incredible wildlife that share their Islands. Without support and enthusiasm of the people who live in the Enchanted Isles, how will we ever be able to protect them?

Cartoon flower and tomatoes produced for gardening packs © Sai Pathmanathan

TEN YEARS IN THE LAND OF GIANTS

Galapagos giant tortoises on southern flank of Alcedo volcano © GTMEP

he Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme (GTMEP) is ten years old. Henry Nicholls talks to ecologist Stephen Blake about how the project came about, what has been achieved over the last decade and why this work is so important.

GTMEP project founder Steve Blake checks a tortoise tag © GTMEP

Henry: Before coming to Galapagos, you’d spent much of your career working on forest elephants in the Congo Basin in central Africa. Forest elephants and giant tortoises seem like very different study species but there are lots of similarities aren’t there? Steve: Both are megavertebrates. They are the largest animals by far in their respective ecosystems. Both are keystone species and ecosystem engineers that exert an ecological impact that is disproportionate to their abundance. They both have very broad diets, eating well over 100 species of plant and, when fruit becomes available, will switch their diets to take advantage of these high-value foods. Tortoises and elephants eat way more fruit than any other species in their ecosystems and with a gut full of seeds, they plant them widely as they bulldoze their way through the landscape. That has important implications for the future dynamics of the habitats in which they occur. Henry: When you began the project in 2010, what did you set out to achieve?

Steve: From Charles Darwin’s observations and those of park rangers and local farmers, we knew that there was a seasonal change in the distribution of tortoises, but we didn’t know the mechanics, energetics or evolutionary basis of these movements. I knew nothing about giant tortoises. I knew nothing about the Galapagos Islands. So, our initial questions were very simple: do tortoises on Santa Cruz island undergo longdistance, seasonal migrations? If they do, who moves, when, where, how and why?

knowledge to the table. Importantly, we have now passed on the mantle of GTMEP principal investigator to Jorge Carrión, a highly respected Galapageño who used to be director of the GNP. We have the potential to influence big decisions on the future of Galapagos that were unimaginable to us a decade ago. Hopefully we can help to integrate the needs of tortoises into the planning processes that will decide the ecological and socioeconomic future of the Archipelago.

Henry: What did you find and why is this so important?

The Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme is a multi-institutional collaboration among the Charles Darwin Foundation, the Max Planck Institute of Ornithology, the Galapagos National Park, Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, the Houston Zoo and Galapagos Conservation Trust.

Steve: By tracking individual tortoises across the landscape on several islands over many seasons, we now understand much better how many factors – temperature, the distribution of food, the location of nesting sites, the energetics of movement, the health of the tortoise – all determine the movement strategy of a tortoise, including whether it is likely to migrate or not. For some Galapagos tortoise species, migrations are important for their continued survival. However, migration routes can be degraded or even blocked, particularly on the inhabited islands. We now have a management hook to work with farmers, planning committees, local people and the Galapagos National Park (GNP) to minimise potentially negative effects of the very vibrant economic growth, and land use changes, which may impact the ecology of the tortoises. Henry: What next?

For some Galapagos tortoise species, migrations are important for their continued survival

Steve: We’ve now had ten years of building a research agenda that’s made a successful contribution to the management, and therefore conservation, of the Galapagos giant tortoises. We have a bit of a platform now to bring demonstrable technical

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

GLOBAL RELEVANCE ONE HEALTH: IT’S TIME TO RETHINK OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE by Sharon L. Deem

f there’s one thing that COVID-19 has laid bare, it’s that we cannot separate human health from the health of all other life on Earth. The coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is thought to have reached humans from a bat host, through an intermediary animal vector probably traded as a source of protein for the growing human population.

Wildlife, livestock and humans live side by side in Galapagos © GTMEP

The pandemic is a real wakeup call, reminding us that the way we interact with other species and the wider environment matters a lot. This is the simple message behind One Health, the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines — working locally, nationally and globally — to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment. This movement highlights the health connections of the three arms of the One Health triad – animals, humans and environments – and asks us to work together to solve the many health crises of today. By way of an illustration, I give you Pseudogymnoascus destructans, a fungus that was first detected in the United States in 2006 that infected and killed North American bats in their millions. What has this got to do with human health and wellbeing? Bats control insect

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

pests, feeding on many species that plague human crops and vectors like mosquitoes that carry viruses such as West Nile virus and Zika virus. So, without bats, we may be at increased risk of infectious diseases and we become more reliant than ever on pesticides. Bats are also pollinators, with a role in the fertilisation of some 300 fruit varieties. Indeed, it’s been estimated that the ‘ecosystem services’ provided by bats contribute almost $4 billion to US agriculture every year. We cannot continue to ignore the web of ecological connections. Put simply, a healthy planet equates to healthy humans. In Galapagos, as elsewhere, the health of humans, animals and environments are connected, and we need to pay attention to the three sides of the triangle. The overuse of antibiotics to treat human and livestock bacterial infections, for example, allows for strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics to evolve. With humans in Galapagos living so close to protected areas, it’s very likely that these strains will find their way into the wider ecosystem, with consequences that may have serious negative health impacts on the endemic wildlife of Galapagos, the livestock species raised on the Islands, and the human inhabitants and tourists. With many of us now living in cities and away from nature, it is easy to ignore the importance of the profound connections between the health of humans, other species and the wider environment, but to do so is to invite a planetary heart attack. The COVID-19 pandemic provides the opportunity to reimagine a post-pandemic future. We each have a responsibility to ourselves, our communities and other species to embrace the One Health approach to ensure healthy humans, healthy animals and healthy environments. There are many ways to weave One Health into our daily lives. Buying less and reusing and recycling more will reduce your ecological footprint in an instant. Eating less meat and sourcing food from local, sustainable producers will reduce the movement of plants and animals, and hence the incidence of new zoonoses – diseases shared between human and non-human animals. Avoiding toxic chemicals when treating pests will minimise the introduction of disruptive chemicals into the environment. Picking up litter, particularly plastic waste, will contribute to the health of the oceans. And, of course, respecting the air and water on which we all depend will not only make you healthier, it also may just make you happy. For more ideas on how to help visit: stlzoo.org/diyconservation

l Pu

t ti c k

SUPPORTER PAGE E

veryone has been affected this year, with many lives changed owing to the global pandemic. The charity sector has been hit hard but your support has been overwhelming – even at a time when things will not be easy for many of you. As staff, we are always struck by your passion for the Islands. Whether recalling a trip made 30 years ago, planning a possible future trip or, in some cases, having never even set foot in Galapagos, the conversations we have with you evoke the same emotions – joy, wonder and affection. We thought it would be nice to share some of the comments we have received recently, which keep us going when times are hard. Many of these we have left as anonymous because they echo so many other similar comments from others. Together we make a strong force for change in Galapagos - thank you. Hoping to revisit that magical place one day.

Galapagos sea lion © Elena Sabella

I am a member but want to donate this small amount to help you keep up the good work. Hoping that you and your families will stay well and safe, and thinking of those on the Islands who are ill. Wishing and hoping they recover and thrive.

Travelling round the Galapagos Islands was a once in a lifetime experience for me. I joined Galapagos Conservation Trust on my return and have supported it ever since. Good luck with everything you do! Keep up your excellent work - you are a brilliant example to us all in terms of how we should all be protecting our wildlife.

been supporters for “Having l years, we have decided

severa that the donations we will make in the next two years will be unrestricted – meaning that you can spend the money according to your most pressing needs. We believe that this type of flexible support is vital for charities in these uncertain times. Aurum Charitable Trust

“

Lucky enough to have visited - an amazing group of islands - will live in my memory for ever! In these challenging socially-distanced times, The Evolution Education Trust is delighted to be able to offer a grant to help GCT develop and deliver vital nature conservation education to children on the Islands. Dr Chris Lennard, Acting CEO, Evolution Education Trust

”

Waved albatrosses © Jose Rui da Cruz Moura Santos

I was hoping to fulfil a lifetime’s ambition and visit this year. Obviously, that’s not happened so hopefully this donation will help the Islands stay safe so I can visit in the future. A critical time for the Galapagos Islands and for GCT.

Blue-footed boobies © Mia Taylor

Glad you are such a dedicated group of caring people and hope things get back to normal with your vital work ASAP. Good luck to you all.

“

I was very grateful to receive your magazine which really cheered me up during this strange time. Consequently, I bought one of your lovely t-shirts.

The overwhelming sense we get from people who have visited Galapagos is that the experience lives with them forever. Memories of Galapaagos sea lions, frigatebirds and the comical blue-footed boobies are often mentioned by you. It is indeed “a magical place” as many of you say. Kelly Hague, Head of Individual Giving

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

REVIEWS

APPEAL

CONSERVING GALAPAGOS

Galapagos is often viewed as a last foothold of pristine nature. For sixty years, conservationists have worked to restore this evolutionary Eden after centuries of exploitation at the hands of pirates, whalers and human settlers. With the giant tortoises as the keystone species of the Islands and an iconic flagship, Elizabeth Hennessy explores their position “at the crux of an alliance uniting science, conservation, and tourism” to show how deeply human and nonhuman life are entangled. On the Backs of Tortoises renders the history of Galapagos conservation in unprecedented detail and then begins to work away at questions that few visitors to the Islands will have given much thought to. In particular, Hennessy argues against the idea that conservation in Galapagos (or elsewhere) should be about restoration of species, ecologies and landscapes to some pre-human baseline and asks what it is that we are actually trying to conserve and for whom. Highly recommended.

BREATHTAKING PHOTOGRAPHY A Lifetime in Galapagos by Tui de Roy, Bloomsbury, 2020, £40 ISBN 9780691194998 Reviewed by Sharon Johnson What a joy it was to receive Tui de Roy’s book ‘A Lifetime in Galapagos’ in the post whilst in lock-down in London, particularly at a time when I was meant to be in Galapagos myself, perhaps even catching up with Tui in person. Her beautifully illustrated book features the most breathtaking photographs that only Tui could capture after being raised on the Islands by her pioneering parents. The introduction, which provides an unique insight into her life growing up in Galapagos and receiving her first SLR camera, sets the scene for the following chapters which bring you up close and personal to the spectacular wildlife captured through Tui’s lens. I was captivated towards the end of the book by the story of ‘Abuelo’ the marine iguana, which illustrates Tui’s deep connection with the wildlife she has grown up with. I am sure this connection cemented her destiny to become the world-renowned wildlife photographer that is she today. If you wish to be transported to Galapagos, this book of personal close encounter images of the wonders of the Islands, will certainly take you there.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES FROM THE IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC

On the Backs of Tortoises: Darwin, the Galapagos, and the Fate of an Evolutionary Eden by Elizabeth Hennessy, Yale University Press, 2019, £20 ISBN 9780300232745 Reviewed by Henry Nicholls

s the Galapagos Islands start to reopen to the world, the effects of lockdown are emerging. There have been immediate impacts, such as the pause in the management of invasive species. Others will be longerterm, including the economic pressure on the natural resources of the Islands and the waters within, and surrounding, the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The Charles Darwin Foundation’s Mangrove Finch Project team had to rapidly leave the field suddenly, in the middle of the breeding season. This meant they had to abandon the finch nestlings at the mercy of the Philornis downsi fly larvae, which was present in all the nests they came across (see page 11). There is nothing they can do but hope they will find breeding adults ready to nest again next season. They need your help to make sure that they can return to the field in 2021 to ensure that next year’s nestlings survive. With the lockdown in Galapagos, came a pause in tourism – which makes up more than 80% of the local economy. This lack of employment prompted worries that illegal fishing would increase in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR), which is home to one of the highest densities of sharks in the world. However, a more immediate threat came from outside of the GMR. In June, industrial fishing boats descended on the boundary of the GMR, providing a perilous journey for migratory species, such as whale and scalloped hammerhead sharks. We need to ramp up our efforts to provide safe corridors for these majestic creatures outside of the GMR by providing the evidence needed to create protected swimways through these dangerous waters – but we need your support to do so more urgently than ever. Please help us to ensure the survival of the unique wildlife of Galapagos in these extraordinary times by donating today. You can do so either using the form on the back page or by contacting the office on 020 7399 7440.

EVENTS

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For more information about events and to book your tickets, simply visit galapagosconservation.org.uk/events or call us on 020 7399 7440

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GALAPAGOS DAY WEBINAR AUTUMN 2020

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ue to exceptional circumstances surrounding COVID-19 we are sad to have cancelled our usual Galapagos Day at the Royal Geographical Society. However, we are thrilled to be able to offer, instead, a special webinar. We are gathering a panel of experts to discuss what we are learning about the unique marine species in Galapagos, and what we can do about the threats that they face including industrial fishing and plastic pollution. For more details, please visit our Events webpage galapagosconservation.org.uk/events or email gct@gct.org.

JOIN OUR CRUISE OF A LIFETIME

ur bespoke Galapagos Conservation Trust cruise has been postponed to June 2021 so there is still an opportunity to join this unique way to see the Archipelago. We are pleased to be offering two options with the following dates: 8 day cruise: 18 – 25 June 2021; 17 day cruise: 8 – 25 June 2021. There are still two cabins available for both options. GCT supporters Gordon and Marilyn Plant have joined us on two cruises. This is what they had to say. “Quite apart from the satisfaction of knowing that we were supporting the work of GCT, the cruises themselves were exceptional with respect to the likeminded fellow passengers, the superb guides and the itinerary. The opportunity to meet individuals active in conservation and research added an extra dimension. If you plan to visit Galapagos, this is the way.”

For more information please contact Kelly Hague at kelly@gct.org or visit: galapagosconservation.org.uk/gct-cruise

GALAPAGOS

MERCHANDISE Christmas cards

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to send a unique Christmas card this year. Our two designs are the humorous Santa Jaws and a beautifully illustrated little vermilion flycatcher card. Each design is £5 for a pack, or £9 for two.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

Adopting an animal is a great way to help conserve Galapagos – and makes a great Christmas present! Our adoptions come with a certificate, a collectable fact file, a soft toy and updates on our conservation work. This year we have also made our digital adoptions available to download immediately! Find our more here: bit.ly/GCT-Adoptions

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020

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Yes I am a UK taxpayer and I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to the Galapagos Conservation Trust. I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

GCT DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SURVEY

You can do so online via this link bit.ly/GCTdigitalsurvey or by filling in this form and returning it using the FREEPOST envelope included with the magazine. I like to receive a printed copy of the magazine I would like to receive a digital copy of the magazine only (please ensure that we have your email address using the contact details form above) I would like other GCT communications materials (e.g. appeals, event invites) to be sent via post

Order these and other Galapagos merchandise using the form on the back page or online at galapagosconservation.org.uk/shop

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Adopt an animal Our 2021 calendar is now ready to pre-order! Filled with stunning photos of underwater scenes, Galapagos’ animals in action and fabulous landscapes, this year’s calendar features images from our 2020 Galapagos photography competition, including the winning image ‘Waiting For a Meal’ by Marcos Miranda Correia. Only £10! (Pre-order shipping date planned for early October).

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The pandemic has given us an opportunity to re-evaluate how we do things at GCT, including how we send our communications. We know that many of you enjoy receiving a printed copy of the magazine but as technology improves, we are considering providing a digital copy in addition. As well as helping us to reduce costs a digital copy would mean that we can provide more varied content, linking to other sources of information should you wish to learn more.

All cards read: “Seasons Greetings/ Felice Fiestas” and come in packs of 10 with envelopes.

2021 calendars

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PAYMENT FORM There are several easy ways to place an order or donate in support of our work. 1. Via our website galapagosconservation.org.uk 2. By telephone on 020 7399 7440 3. By completing the details on this form and returning with your preferred payment method using the FREEPOST envelope provided.

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Due to the pandemic, we had to unexpectedly leave the field in the middle of the mangrove finch breeding season, meaning we were unable to protect this year’s fledglings from Philornis downsi. Please continue to help our work.

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With your help, I have been able to continue with online education activities in Galapagos including working on virtual education toolkits. Education is vital to the future of the wildlife of Galapagos, so thank you for your ongoing support.

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Thank you for helping us to ensure that our next underwater research trip can go ahead. While we can interpret satellite data remotely, it is crucial that we deploy new tags to continue to understand the mysteries of the world’s largest fish.

COVID-19 has affected GCT’s income this year and will likely do so in 2021 as well. Without your loyalty, we would not be able to support the people that are protecting the unique wildlife of Galapagos. Please continue helping us to ensure that some of the rarest species in the world do not disappear forever.

Galapagos Matters Autumn/Winter 2020

Articles inside

Global Relevance

A decade of tortoise research

Galapagos News

Growing food at home

Wild Galapagos