Galapagos Matters Spring/Summer 2019 by Galapagos Conservation Trust

GALAPAGOSMATTERS SPRING | SUMMER 2019

Shark nurseries URBAN FINCHES Plastic memories

galapagosconservation.org.uk

GALAPAGOSMAT TERS CONTENTS

Cover Small ground finches in Galapagos have evolved to feed on very small seeds, though they supplement their diet with invertebrates. © Kiyoko Gotanda

4-5 6-7 8-11

Wild

Galapagos

12 13

14-15 Project Updates 16-19 Urbanisation and finches

Galapagos

News

Discovering shark nurseries The Galapagos Marine Reserve has one of the highest abundance of sharks in the world. As Lauren Goodman explains, however, we are still learning about the early stages of their lives, which is important in order to ensure that they, and the habitats important to them, are fully protected.

UK News

C ommunity outreach on San Cristobal

Although it feels like we can’t live without plastic, it was not that long ago that it didn’t exist. Elena Perez ran a workshop with some senior members of the San Cristobal community to see what they used before plastic and whether we can learn from our past to eliminate single-use products.

It is well-known that the evolution of Darwin’s finches was driven predominantly by competition between species and the types of food available on each island. What impact, therefore, could the increasing amount of human food found on the Islands have on these birds? Kiyoko Gotanda describes how she is researching this question.

Global relevance We are living in an age of extinction. However, as Henry Nicholls explores, there is hope as scientists rediscover species thought to be lost all over the world, including in Galapagos.

21-23 Merchandise Membership, Reviews, Events and

CONTRIBUTORS

A second year graduate student at UNC Chapel Hill, Lauren Goodman is interested in drone technology in the marine environment. Originally from the landlocked state of Oklahoma, she never imagined that her science career would take her to the ocean, let alone the Galapagos Archipelago. Now the Islands have become where she lives and works.

GALAPAGOS MAT TERS

Elena Perez is a Fulbright Fellow who works to raise awareness about plastic pollution in Galapagos. Recognising the important role that local communities play in conservation efforts, she aims to connect locals with the research conducted on the Islands. She also works to engage underrepresented populations to promote healthier communities.

Kiyoko Gotanda is a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Banting Postdoctoral Fellow in the Behavioural Ecology Group at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, as well as a Clare Hall Research Fellow in the Sciences. Her research focuses on the intersection of evolution, ecology and behaviour.

GCT Ambassador Henry Nicholls is a freelance science journalist specialising in evolutionary biology, environment, conservation and history of science. His most recent book, The Galapagos: A Natural History, received international acclaim and is a popular seller in our shop. He is also editor of GCT’s Galapagos Matters magazine.

FROM THE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE by Sharon Johnson

e are so used to modern-day conveniences, such as plastic, that sometimes it is hard to remember that only a few decades ago our parents and grandparents lived without them.

Researcher Elena Perez from the Galapagos Science Center has been working with some of the senior residents on San Cristobal to document what they used before single-use plastics became available on the Islands, and whether we can learn from them in order to reduce the threat of plastic pollution in Galapagos (p. 13). To support this work, GCT has been working with the tourism industry to influence the behaviour of the 275,000 people now visiting the Islands to reduce their plastic footprint and ensure a cleaner Archipelago (p. 12). Another strong focus for GCT this year is on our Endangered Sharks of Galapagos programme. The Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) is unique in its high abundance of endangered scalloped hammerhead, silky and whale sharks but outside the GMR they face pressures such as increased industrial fishing. We are working with partners to improve our understanding of sharks throughout their lifetimes, including the importance of shark nurseries in the GMR. As part of this, we are

supporting drone surveys around San Cristobal to determine where nurseries are present and how many sharks are using them (p. 8). This information is important to ensure that these key predators are protected for generations to come. Our Spring Appeal will be raising money for another aspect of our shark programme - creating a protected swimway for sharks and other marine life as they leave the GMR (p. 11). We are helping young people become aware of the threats to Galapagos’ marine life through our Oceans Outreach programme (p. 15) and have produced a storybook about Marti, a scalloped hammerhead shark, and the journey that she takes from her nursery in the GMR to Costa Rica. At the time of publishing, we are running a campaign to raise funds to deliver packs of the book to schools in Galapagos. In the future, we would like to roll this out to schools on mainland Ecuador. By buying a copy, you will enable us to provide a book to a local child so please do consider supporting this initiative (p.11).

With a growing human population in Galapagos comes increasing human-wildlife conflict and sadly this is affecting a range of species. An unexpected outcome of urbanisation is the effect that the availability of human food could be having on Darwin’s finches (p. 16). Finches are also a key focus of our Restoring Floreana programme. Mitigation work is currently taking place, with avaries built to house several species of finch to ensure the protection of these species during the eradication phase (p. 14). GCT Chair, Dr Mark Collins, will be giving a fuller update on the programme in his lecture on Floreana at our event this month. The evening will be in memory of Felipe Cruz, who was born on the island and was a great friend to GCT. I look forward to seeing many of you there but, in the meantime, thank you for your ongoing support and I hope you enjoy this latest issue of Galapagos Matters.

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 Matters Designer: Clare Simm obtained from various sources, all is printed on paper made from well Printer: Bishops Printers of which have extensive knowledge managed forests and controlled Charles Darwin Suite, of Galapagos, but neither GCT nor sources. 28 Portland Place, London W1B 1LY the contributors are responsible Editor: Henry Nicholls 020 7399 7440 for the accuracy of the contents Chief Executive: Sharon Johnson gct@gct.org or the opinions expressed herein. Communications and Marketing www.galapagosconservation.org.uk Manager: Clare Simm

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

GALAPAGOS MAT TERS

WILD GALAPAGOS While everyone is familiar with marine iguanas, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not often you see their behaviour in such detail. This fantastic image, captured by Joseph Sullivan, shows a marine iguana sneezing out excess salt. Due to the high concentration of salt in their diet gained from feeding on marine algae, marine iguanas filter their blood and use this method to expel it, often forming salt crystals on the snout. Do you have any unique photos of Galapagos? Then enter them into our photography competition! See more details on page 23.

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

GALAPAGOS

NEWS

EXTINCT TORTOISE REDISCOVERED

or the first time in over 100 years, a tortoise has been found on Fernandina island. An expedition, led by the Galapagos National Park and Galapagos Conservancy (GC), found the female tortoise in February 2019 in the lowlands of the island and estimate her age to be over 100 years old. The Fernandina giant tortoise, Chelonoidis phantasticus, is listed by the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered but was presumed to be extinct. Only a single tortoise of the species has ever been identified, by a California Academy of Sciences expedition in 1906 and, given the frequency of volcanic eruptions on the island, it was thought unlikely that another individual would ever be found. However, anecdotal evidence suggested otherwise. In 1964, helicopter surveys of Fernandina found several large tortoise

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

droppings and evidence of tortoise foraging, and a brief airplane survey in 2009 reported the possible sighting of a tortoise. In 2013, during vegetation monitoring, researchers found tortoise excrement and footprints. This 2019 survey was the first extensive survey for tortoises on the island and, along with the tortoise, they found further footprints and excrement in other areas of the island. This has encouraged the researchers to search further for other individuals so that they can start a breeding programme to ensure the species’ survival. They will also undertake genetic testing on the female to determine her genetic origin. Wacho Tapia from GC said, “The conservation of Galapagos giant tortoises has been my world for 29 years, and I have been involved in many exciting events, including the discovery of a new species of

tortoise [the Eastern Santa Cruz giant tortoise]. But this time, the emotion I feel is indescribable. To find a living tortoise on Fernandina island is perhaps the most important find of the century. Now we just need to confirm the genetic origin of this female.” The tortoise, who was named Fern, has been moved to the breeding center on Santa Cruz. This was a difficult decision but, according to GC, she will have a much better chance of survival in captivity where food and water are abundant. If she had been left on Fernandina, she might have become lost forever, along with the potential for future breeding efforts to help the survival of her species. Tortoises can live to be 200 years old, so GC are hopeful that there is still plenty of time for them to be returned to their native island. (See page 20 for more.)

HELPING LOCAL FIREMEN

n enterprising University of Exeter student has come up with a slightly different way to help the local residents of Galapagos by arranging the donation of protective clothing for the firefighters of San Cristobal. Having heard that they worked in jeans and t-shirts, Maria Nute contacted a friend at the London Fire Brigade who put her in touch with the International Fire and Rescue Association (IFRA), a charity that helps to ensure that firefighters worldwide have the right equipment. Through IFRA, 26 sets of protective clothing, including helmets, gloves and boots, have been donated.

LONESOME GEORGE GENOME

n international team of researchers, including from the Galapagos National Park, have analysed the genome of Lonesome George, the last Pinta giant tortoise, alongside DNA from the Aldabra giant tortoise, which is found in the Seychelles. The study, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, is important for the Galapagos authorities as it will inform decision-making around restoring populations of different Galapagos giant tortoises, especially on islands where they are now extinct such as Floreana. In addition, the study revealed insights into the genetics behind the long lifespans of giant tortoises, including their ability to repair their DNA and their robust immune systems.

LAND IGUANA REINTRODUCTION

ntil this year, Galapagos land iguanas have not been seen on Santiago since 1838. The species had been classed as locally extinct on the island due to invasive species such as feral pigs and goats. In January 2019, the Galapagos National Park (GNP) and Island Conservation reintroduced 1,436 Galapagos land iguanas to the island as part of the effort to restore its habitat. The iguanas were sourced from North Seymour, where there were over 5,000 individuals. This was too large a population for the island where food was becoming scarce, so removing the individuals should enable the remaining iguanas to thrive. With GCT support, the GNP and scientists from Massey University, including GCT partner Luis Ortiz-Catedral, will now monitor the population for two years to ensure that it thrives. They will determine how well the iguanas survive on the island, whether they establish as a population and, eventually, if they reproduce.

CORAL REEF RESEARCH

S © Vanessa Horwell

ince the 1982-83 El Niño event, coral reefs in Galapagos have been virtually nonexistent with over 95% lost across the Archipelago. A recent study by Peter Glynn and colleagues, published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, looked at the past, present and future state of coral reefs in Galapagos. They found that some sites are undergoing recovery including those reefs found off the coast of Floreana, Marchena, Darwin and Wolf, with the central and northern island sites recovering most rapidly. It was noted that the greatest potential threats to the recovery of the coral populations include ongoing ocean warming and acidification, erosion of the reefs by animals and other organisms, disease, human population growth, overfishing, invasive species, pollution and habitat destruction. Due to the diverse nature of the these threats, the study concluded that there will be ongoing local and Archipelago-wide mortality and destruction of the coral reef system in Galapagos.

orman Wray has been appointed as the new Governor of the Galapagos Islands and will be heading up the Governing Council of Galapagos (CGREG). The Governing Council is vital for ensuring that the Islands are protected for future generations and is the driving force behind the single-use plastics ban that was put into place in 2018. “It has been a privilege that our younger children were able to grow up in a safe environment, have a very close contact with nature, and receive support from a multi-cultural inter-related community,” says Wray. “Galapagos has given us a lot, and I am happy for the opportunity now to give back.” With the growth of both the local population and visitors to the Islands since he has lived there, Wray aims to take decisions that help both ensure the environmental integrity of the Islands and the social well-being of the population.

NEW GALAPAGOS GOVERNOR

SEED DISPERSAL

t has always been assumed that those species of Darwin’s finch that feed on seeds leave them damaged and no longer viable. However, new evidence published in the Journal of Tropical Ecology suggests that they could also be seed dispersers through collecting materials for their nests. They often use cotton-like materials in their nests, including Darwin’s cotton (left) and its seeds. By recreating the germination conditions experienced by cotton seeds in a nest that has naturally fallen from a tree, the study confirmed that at least a few seeds would be viable for germination. Darwin’s finches, therefore, might act as dispersers for Darwin’s cotton and possibly other plants in the Galapagos Islands.

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

SEARCHING FOR SHARK NURSERIES

by Lauren Goodman

icture this. You are out in the field with a birds-eye view of a completely clear lagoon, waters the colour of turquoise and white sandy bottoms. Then, all of the sudden, you see it: sharks, and not just any sharks. They are babies.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

While Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to say that this is how my first spotting of a juvenile blacktip shark went, that would be a complete lie. In all reality, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t notice the first baby shark in any of my drone footage until three, I repeat, three days later. It turns out that when you are so concentrated on capturing a specific area within the drone footage, you forget to actually look for sharks. But the moment I noticed the movement of juvenile blacktip sharks in my footage was a day of celebration. I vividly remember jumping up onto the chair I was sitting on and yelling so loudly it startled everyone else on the research vessel. It was the perfect way to find out my ideas were finally panning out the way I had hoped they would. As it turns out, the drone does a great job capturing sharks

on video. Now, flying the drone has just become routine. The day before a survey, I pull out all the equipment that I plan on taking to the field with me. I fully charge the batteries and remote control, make sure all software is updated, and pack it all up in a waterproof case for the boat ride. Why is my work important? While Galapagos is well-known for its diverse marine life, the Islands are most famous for the high density of sharks located within their waters. One of the more commonly encountered sharks around the Islands is the blacktip shark. This particular species is known to give birth to babies in nearshore habitats around the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR). The babies then use these areas during their first year of life, much like a nursery room for our own newborns.

The babies use these areas during their first year of life, much like a nursery room.

ÂŠ Lauren Goodman

A large number of juvenile blacktip sharks in a semi-enclosed area within the survey site at Punta Albemarle, Isabela. How many sharks can you count?

The drone used in the surveys. ÂŠ Lauren Goodman

Some of the nearshore habitats have already been studied and these same areas are likely habitats for multiple different juvenile marine species. This research falls under a broader effort to understand multiple shark populations in the GMR through funding from Galapagos Conservation Trust. The potential nursery areas are particularly important because they likely contribute more sharks to the adult shark population than other habitats. This matters because a large and healthy shark population has multiple benefits, such as increased marine tourism and regulation of smaller fish populations. Thus, to understand shark populations, we need to study their densities. A drone may more accurately capture shark densities in these areas. Additionally, the idea that drones have the capability to conduct small-scale

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

SHARKS While simple, this research is incredibly important to better understand where these baby sharks are and what the best way to measure their abundance is. Additionally, drone surveys may prove more efficient and less invasive than the traditional methods used to understand abundance of baby sharks. Through this research, I hope to influence the expansion and protection of essential fish habitats and shark nurseries around the Archipelago. While previous survey methods have worked, it is my hope that drone applications will become the quicker, safer and cheaper method to search for shark nurseries. Although this pilot survey is largely focused on one island, San Cristobal, there is potential for expansion if we prove that drone surveys are more efficient than traditional methods. This technology could, ultimately, be used to increase the protection of nursery areas and ensure the blacktip shark population in Galapagos is conserved. Additionally, it will likely extend to multiple different species of sharks, such as the scalloped hammerhead. And who knows? Maybe population surveys of many different species can be improved upon through the use of drones.

surveys of large animals at a much lower price than traditional methods has also caught on in the conservation management field. The methodology for our studies is quite simple. First, at each site we fly a predefined path filming video with the drone. These flights include areas that we currently believe may be baby shark habitats and areas where we don’t expect to find any sharks. When the drone flight is complete, a large gillnet (a fishing net with buoys on top that move when something is caught) is thrown into the water and the area of interest is blocked off for an hour. During this time if sharks are caught in the net, they are captured, tagged, and health measurements are taken. The number of sharks caught in the net within one hour is then compared to the number captured on video by the drone. This requires multiple people to watch the drone footage and independently count the number of baby blacktip sharks in each site per month. A ranked system measuring shark abundance across sites using both survey methods will allow us to determine which sites have the highest abundance of baby sharks and how each method compares within and across sites.

Tagged baby blacktip shark being placed back in the water in at the survey site La Seca on San Cristobal.

The drone also captured images of other marine fauna such as Galapagos sharks (left) and bottlenose dolphins (right). © Lauren Goodman

Tagged baby blacktip shark being placed back in the water in at the survey site La Seca on San Cristobal.

he latest Galapagos Whale Shark Project (GWSP) expedition in September 2018, which was part funded by GCT, reached a major milestone in whale shark reproductive research, by carrying out 21 ultrasounds on 16 wild female whale sharks, and successfully getting images! Researchers have believed for a long time that the distended abdomens of the whale sharks visiting Galapagos are a clear indication of pregnancy. The ultrasounds taken last year showed follicles in their ovaries, but sadly no clear evidence of developing embryos. The ultrasound has to penetrate up to 25cm of skin and muscles so it is extremely challenging to obtain clear images, as they found in 2017 when they failed to get any images at all. These results, along with blood and tissue samples, and the successful deployment of 12 satellite tags to track whale shark migration, are helping to build up a picture of whale shark biology. Despite not finding evidence of embryos, this is a huge milestone in discovering how, where and when whale sharks are giving birth.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

Main picture: Dr Rui Matsumoto performing an ultrasound on a wild whale shark. Below: An ultrasound showing whale shark follicles.

WHALE SHARK UPDATE

SHARKS

GCT SHARK WORK IN GALAPAGOS MARTI THE HAMMERHEAD SHARK: A GALAPAGOS JOURNEY I

t is thought that 90% of children in Galapagos have never stepped foot in the National Park, despite it covering 97% of the Archipelago. As part of our efforts to connect the children on the Islands with the ocean around them (see page 15 for more information), and with support from MigraMar and the Galapagos Science Center, we have written an educational storybook. The book tells the tale of Marti, a young scalloped hammerhead shark, and the journey she takes from her home in the Galapagos Islands to Cocos Island in Costa Rica, a vast migration across the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, our intrepid shark encounters other marine friends who share the magical but perilous adventure with her. A group of scientists track this incredible journey, hoping to discover more about the migration of species along this ocean ‘swimway’. We invite you to join them on their quest to protect our brave explorers on their journeys now and in the future. Story-telling is a powerful engagement tool that lends itself brilliantly to outreach activities open to the whole family. With your support, we want to connect every child in Galapagos with ocean science and conservation through Marti’s story. We aim to provide packs for every school in the Islands and will host community awareness-raising events. Our initial target is 1000 books for children in Galapagos and we hope, eventually, to roll the project out along the cost of mainland Ecuador, Peru and Costa Rica.

If you would like to buy the book, you can pre-order them from our shop online (galapagosconservation.org.uk/shop), or via the form on the back. For £20 you will not only get your own copy in English, you will also ensure that a child in Galapagos gets a Spanish one too!

SWIMWAY APPEAL T

he Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) is one of the most biologically diverse marine protected areas in the world, and one of the few places left on Earth with a high abundance of endangered shark species, including scalloped hammerhead and whale sharks. A number of species, including blacktip and scalloped hammerhead sharks, use the shallower coastal waters as nurseries. Migratory species, like Marti (see above), then leave the safety of the GMR to migrate across the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Here they are threatened by industrial fishing either targeted for shark fins, which are considered a delicacy in Asia, or as bycatch. In 2017, a Chinese vessel was captured in the GMR with over 6,000 individual sharks on board. This amount of fishing cannot be sustainable and is the key reason that many shark species are now endangered. Cocos Island National Park, in Costa Rica, is often the destination for migratory sharks and other marine species from Galapagos. Given the importance of this migration route, we are supporting our partners, including MigraMar, who are gathering crucial scientific evidence to ensure the Ecuadorian and Costa Rican governments

can implement protection for migratory species in the ‘swimway’, from threats such as industrial fishing. This includes tagging sharks and using remote cameras to identify which species are using the swimway. We are also supporting nursery surveys in Galapagos as well as ensuring that there is local support for shark conservation. With increased knowledge about sharks throughout their life span, we can ensure these top predators and charismatic species are protected for generations to come, but we need your help to ensure the work succeeds. Just £116 will sponsor a week of hammerhead nursery surveys and improve our understanding about these endangered sharks. As a thank you, if you donate over £100 and quote SHARKS2019 when you do so, we will send you a free digital hammerhead adoption (worth £20)! Please donate today to protect sharks throughout their lifetimes from nursery to migration. You can do so by using the form on the back page, visiting our website, or contacting the office on 020 7399 7440.

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

NEWS PLASTICS WORKSHOP

WANDERLUST AWARDS W

e were delighted in October 2018 when GCT’s supporter cruise guide, Pablo Valladares, won the ‘Top Conservation Guide’ award at the Wanderlust World Guide Awards in London. Mark Cawardine, one of the judges, commented, “Pablo is an influencer in the best sense of the word. He is clearly admired by all who know Galapagos, while he is loved by his customers for whom he inspires a passion for conservation.” Congratulations on your win Pablo!

by Elisa Sevilla

he Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) at the University of London hosted a LAGlobal workshop on ‘Darwin, Darwinism and Latin America’ last autumn. The Embassy of Ecuador in London, FLACSO-Ecuador and ILAS were the partners behind this event convened by Dr Elisa Sevilla. Speakers, including Alison Pearn from the Darwin Correspondence Project at the University of Cambridge, Rosaura Ruiz (Mexico), Heloisa Bertol (Brazil), GCT Ambassador Randal Keynes, Elisa Sevilla (Ecuador), Elizabeth Hennessy (USA) and Irina Podgorny (Argentina), discussed the voyage of HMS Beagle, Darwin’s interactions with intellectuals in South America and with other travellers, like Humboldt, as well as his rich correspondence network and collections of fossils and natural history specimens. These scholars also presented interesting research on how Darwin’s ideas circulated in Latin America, especially in politics and education in Mexico, Ecuador and Argentina. The Galapagos Islands and the adaptation of Darwin’s figure for conservation and tourism promotion were also the focus of this workshop. This academic event introduced the work of researchers from Latin America in order to build collaboration networks between historians of science in the region and the UK.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

AN EVENING WITH MONTY HALLS

eadog Productions and the London School of Diving hosted a fantastic event in support of GCT in October 2018 at the Millbank Tower, London. The evening featured a behind-the-scenes talk from GCT’s President Monty Halls and his family about their experience filming the documentary ‘My Family and the Galapagos’. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended, the event raised almost £20,000 for Galapagos conservation for which we are very grateful.

DARWIN, DARWINISM AND LATIN AMERICA

ast October we joined the Latin American Travel Association (LATA) at their Sustainable Tourism Workshop to lead a Plastic Footprint session. This dynamic and interactive workshop looked at disposable plastics and encouraged thoughts about possible alternatives or policies to reduce them. Around 30 LATA members from across the tourism industry joined our session. The challenge, led by GCT’s Andy Donnelly, was to identify every piece of disposable plastic a family of four, with two teenage children, would use during a holiday to Galapagos, from booking to returning home. This included everything from the obvious single-use items such as plastic cutlery and airport liquid bags to the less obvious items like plastic travel document folders. Then a discussion was had around the points where changes could be made and how the tourism industry can support a reduction in the use of disposable plastics. The session gave us really useful baseline data to understand what the situation is now and allowed us to identify the most important areas to encourage change. A key motivator behind this workshop was to look at how we can change the behaviour of tourists visiting Galapagos and discuss the key role tour operators can play in helping us achieve this through their messaging and the actions they take. We are grateful

to LATA for enabling this session to take place. To discover more about what we found, you can read our blog here: galapagosconservation.org.uk/lata-sustainable-tourismworkshop

PLASTIC MEMORIES

by Elena Perez

hen we consider the Galapagos Islands, imagery of spectacular landscapes and exquisite wildlife come to mind, yet we often overlook the human side of the Archipelago. Even though the Galapagos National Park covers 97% of the island chain, the humans living on the remaining 3% of Galapagos hold great influence over conservation efforts.

Plastics, in particular, impact the unique environment of Galapagos, and humans are the sole source of this non-native invasive material. While I consider myself to be environmentally conscious, I hadn’t realised the amount of single-use plastic I consumed myself until I began this work. Because it’s not just the plastic bags or plastic water bottles. Don’t forget about the plastic food wrappers and plastic packaging. Plastic-encased mints and plastic lollypop sticks. Thin clear plastic to protect new and perfectly folded t-shirts and plastic to hold medicine, batteries, yogurts, protein bars, soaps and more. Plastics have become ubiquitous around the world and, though isolated, the human population on Galapagos is not immune to these trends. But disposable plastics haven’t always been on the Islands. Yes, human settlement on the Archipelago occurred relatively recently, but not that recently. The individuals living on the Islands fifty to sixty years ago hold incredible insight into sustainable approaches that may still be appropriate today. So I decided to ask a group of seniors on San Cristobal that call themselves Los Años Dorados, or The Golden Years, about the Galapagos they knew before plastics reached the middle of the Pacific. I had the fortune of accompanying Gianni Arismendy, a Galapagos National Park guide well known for his work in the community, and 23 local seniors from Los Años Dorados to the highlands to learn more about their experiences. We circled around tables and I asked the seniors to think back to the

Galapagos they first remember — before single-use plastics could be found in every shop. We asked the simple question, what did you use before plastics arrived on the Islands? The seniors discussed their experiences in small groups, and used pencils, markers, crayons, and watercolours to depict their most memorable alternatives. Los Años Dorados brought their memories to life, with coconut husks and bright plantain leaves blooming on the pages. or carefully delineated canastas (baskets) conjuring up the not-so-distant past. Some simply listed the items that they had relied on at one time. Representatives of the groups shared customs and experiences, recalling simple and effective alternatives. A few tried to furtively discard their art, folding up their papers and casting them aside. I unfolded one woman’s drawing of the water tanks used before plastic bottles, and assured her that her input carried great value. Opinions also surfaced, with some concerned about losing the convenience of plastic while others spoke out ardently against the use of it. Of course, plastics can be incredibly useful. The problem arises from the way in which we use plastics — discarding items after only a single use. These conversations, however, illuminate local concerns or misgivings, and offer opportunities to better understand reservations, address concerns, learn from each other and grow together. Creating an inclusive environment promotes individuals to share their

experiences and knowledge, which can inform our next steps to reduce plastic pollution. Surely, some practices may no longer be appropriate today, such as burning trash, which contributes to air pollution and would pose a health threat to locals. Other traditions, however, may still prove to be sustainable, practical and convenient, such as wrapping food in banana leaves as opposed to plastic film. Remembering the past allows us to identify reasonable alternatives for single-use plastics that also promote and celebrate the conservation-minded aspects of Ecuadorian culture. In the end, much like the silvery-white memories Dumbledore stored in the Pensieves in Harry Potter, we captured twenty two local memories — twenty two lessons remembered, to spot patterns and links, to learn from the past. I recognise the value of traditional local knowledge and the importance of including diverse perspectives when creating solutions. Conservation can’t be done with research alone — we need to involve the local community, because their concerns, behaviours, interests and choices inevitably affect conservation efforts, as well as their own well-being. Let’s collaborate with diverse stakeholders and incorporate the many different perspectives and experiences on the Islands so we can further the interrelated goals of conservation groups, local governments, tourists, local institutions, and community members. Ultimately, we all want to promote a better Galapagos - a Galapagos that includes the local community.

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

PROJECT

UPDATES

FLOREANA’S FINCHES F

loreana island has a number of finch species ranging from the common small ground finch to the very rare medium tree finch. Our partners on the Restoring Floreana programme have started trials to determine how best to protect these and other native species found on the island from bait when the eradication section of the programme occurs to remove invasive mammals.

Floreana in the south of the Archipelago is the sixth largest Galapagos island and home to a small human population of around 140 people. While there is much about Floreana to marvel at, its biodiversity is but a shadow of what it once was. A major reason for this is the continued presence of invasive predators, including rats, mice and feral cats, which were introduced to the island around 150 years ago when human settlers arrived. The impact of these invasive species has been devastating. The Floreana giant tortoise is now extinct in the wild and 12 other species are no longer found on the main island, including the Floreana mockingbird and Floreana racer snake. A further 55 species are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, including two vertebrates, three invertebrates and five plant species that are considered Critically Endangered. For the 12 species that have suffered local extinction, we are fortunate that they have survived on neighbouring islands and small islets off the coast of Floreana, raising the possibility that we can use some of the individuals to reintroduce these species back onto Floreana. Before we can attempt to restore Floreana’s incredible biodiversity, however, we must remove the invasive predators. Following on from the successes of similar eradication projects on North Seymour, Rabida, South Plaza and Pinzon that have all resulted in a remarkable recovery of the native flora and fauna of these islands, the Galapagos National Park (GNP) and Island Conservation (IC) are now poised to do the same for Floreana. The eradication itself, which is planned for 2020, will involve the dispersal of bait across the island and, if successful, it will be the largest, inhabited tropical island an eradication of rodents and feral cats has been conducted on. The local community is on board to support the programme. This ambitious restoration project has involved extensive research and planning in three main areas: mitigation, eradication and reintroduction. The mitigation phase is vital to minimise the

impact that the eradication might have on the island’s native wildlife. Several institutions with decades of expertise in this field, including Landcare Research from New Zealand and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, have worked with the GNP and IC to produce a thorough risk assessment for all native species on the island. In the case of endemic species and species of special evolutionary significance like some of Darwin’s finches, the team has drawn up a detailed plan-of-action, with specific recommendations of how to protect these unique species. “We spend years studying the island ecosystem and planning for implementation to ensure that we can safely remove invasive species while protecting Floreana’s extraordinary native plants and animals. Our goal is a restored, thriving, sustainable Floreana island,” says Paula Castaño, Restoration Specialist at IC who is leading the mitigation work. For several species of finch, for instance, it has been decided that a small, genetically representative number of each species will be held in purpose-built aviaries on the island for the duration of the eradication. As these species have only rarely been kept in captivity, a trial phase is currently underway to determine the husbandry requirements of each species. “We have identified the numbers [of birds] that can live peaceably together and in good health, additionally identifying many of the specific dietary requirements and preferences of the birds, with over 90% of this being obtained from the island of Floreana itself,” says Roland Digby, Durrell’s Floreana Mitigation Officer. The Floreana community and GNP rangers are playing an essential role in the mitigation activities too, including building and management of the aviaries and assisting in the husbandry and monitoring of the finches. Ultimately, their involvement will help develop local skills and build capacity in Galapagos, which will be invaluable both as the project proceeds and in future conservation efforts more generally.

Left: Inside the finch aviary. Right: A critically endangered medium-tree finch.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

CONNECTING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH NATURE he importance of education and outreach cannot be overstated in ensuring the long-term impact of conservation projects in Galapagos, especially given the exponential growth of the Islands’ population and tourist activities in the last 30 years. In fact, research has shown that interactions with nature at an early age are integral to building connections that develop into life-long values around the importance of conservation. The absence of these formative experiences is likely to contribute to an emerging phenomenon that has been termed “Nature Deficit Disorder”. Unfortunately, many young people growing up in Galapagos have little to no opportunity to experience the uniqueness of their local wildlife. It is thought more than 90% of children on the Islands have never been ‘out’ in the Galapagos National Park (GNP). Barriers to local young people include limited accessibility to the GNP from urban zones, a lack of outdoor learning opportunities with schools and the absence of ongoing, connected engagement activities. The ideas, experience, enthusiasm and capacity for high-quality outreach are available on Galapagos but lack continuity. They tend to be one-off trips rather than regular events, so are not as effective as they might be. Since 2013, we have been working to improve outreach in Galapagos, which has culminated in the recent development of our Galapagos Oceans Outreach Programme (GOOP). The GOOP focuses on the mounting threats to Galapagos’ marine life - linked to both our Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos and Endangered Sharks of Galapagos programmes - and aims to deliver an accessible, sustainable outreach programme to connect the community with their natural environment. In 2019, we are trialling our new ‘engagement pathway’ method for the GOOP, where connected, frequent and varied outreach activities offer young people (and teachers and families) the opportunity to experience the uniqueness of the Islands whilst educating them on key conservation issues. As the diagram below highlights, activities delivered at each ‘stage’ of the pathway are guided by the age of the target audience. During the ‘Aware’ stage, we hope to engage the youngest of our audience via story-telling. Our first step to achieving this is highlighted on page 11 – our storybook, Marti the Hammerhead Shark - A Galapagos Journey, aimed at 7-10 year olds. Most children develop their attitudes to the natural environment by age 10, so this is a crucial age for engagement. By reaching children of community members, including fishers, we hope to engage a wider audience.

Free ‘Connecting with Nature’ activities being offered on San Cristobal as part of the ‘Engaged’ stage of our engagement pathway.

The ‘Engaged’ stage will include free monthly ‘Connecting with Nature’ activities for the San Cristobal community, as well as field trips for school and community groups, such as to shark nursery grounds or key plastic pollution sites. The ‘Pro-active’ stage will empower young people to generate and deliver their own conservation and sustainability projects, selected and supervised by our team. At the ‘Committed’ stage, we will offer high school graduates, undergraduates and postgraduates science or education placements to support development of their professional skills, and build capacity for ocean conservation in Galapagos. Those selected will also be expected to support and mentor earlier pathway stages. Working in partnership with the Galapagos Science Center, day-today programme coordination and activity delivery will be managed by local Oceans Outreach Coordinator, Leidy Apolo. Our partnering scientists and education practitioners will also support running and supervision of the activities and placements. Through the GOOP and our engagement pathway, we will be able to break down barriers to nature and strengthen environmental education for young people both in and outside school. Other partners supporting the GOOP include the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, the Galapagos Science Center, the MigraMar Network, the Galapagos National Park Directorate and the GECO Association.

Feedback loop

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

IS URBANISATION AFFECTING DARWIN’S FINCHES?

by Kiyoko Gotanda

n Puerto Ayora you can find Darwin’s finches everywhere — by the water, at the kioskos (open-air food stalls), at the dock. If you happen to leave some food out at a restaurant, the finches are quick to notice and swoop in for a quick meal before the plates are cleared.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

Urbanisation has been increasing globally in recent decades, with more than half the world’s population residing in urban areas. Urbanisation can change patterns of selection and adaptation, even on remote islands such as the Galapagos Archipelago. On Galapagos, four islands have permanent human populations. The animals found there are already renowned for their naivety, how close you can approach them and, now, they seem to be in search of some tasty titbits of food you might leave behind. On the mainland and elsewhere, one might normally think pigeons or gulls to be the main scavengers of human foods, but on Galapagos, it appears that Darwin’s finches are taking advantage of the abundance of human foods available in town. So why is this important? Darwin’s finches are an iconic example of adaptive radiation. Today, we have several species of Darwin’s

finches that have evolved from a common ancestor that came from mainland South America about two million years ago. Each species of Darwin’s finch has adapted to consume specific food resources that the other species have a much harder time eating. For example, the cactus finch has a long, thin beak that allows it to reach the centres of cactus flowers to drink nectar. In other words, there is a strong link between the diversity of foods naturally found on the Archipelago and the different shapes and sizes of finch beaks. Recently, we discovered that the size and shape of the medium ground finch’s beak has changed. We think the increase in the size of Puerto Ayora, the largest town on Galapagos, might have something to do with it. With an increase in human population comes an increase in human foods, such as crisps, biscuits and bread. The selection that once

Left: The nontourist site at El Garrapatero, where the only humans who occasionally go there are scientists.

Right: Earthwatch volunteers prepare a trial of the cafeteria experiment. These experiments helped us determine if and where Darwin’s finches preferred human foods.

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

URBANISATION shaped the different beak shapes and sizes may no longer be present when there is such a varied diet on offer. We set out to put this idea to the test. We wanted to find out what are finches in town eating compared to finches in nonurban areas and do finches in urban areas prefer human foods? We were supported by Earthwatch both financially and by sending us teams of volunteers, which proved invaluable. We selected four different sites that varied in the degree of urbanisation and the number of tourists. Two were located at El Garrapatero, located 10km from the nearest town. One area was not frequented by tourists and the second was often frequented by tourists who have picnics. Our third site was Academy Bay which is adjacent to the major town of Puerto Ayora and our last site was Puerto Ayora itself. We undertook observations of what food each finch was

consuming, as well as conducting a cafeteriastyle choice experiment where finches were presented with seeds from three local species of foods that finches normally consume, and three human foods (crisps, biscuits and rice). Our results showed that finches are eating different things depending on where they live. Finches in Puerto Ayora were observed consuming mostly human foods, while finches at the non-tourist part of El Garrapatero were observed consuming mostly local foods. At Academy Bay, finches did feed on the local species, but were also observed consuming human foods as well as drinking water from broken pipes. We also found, when given a choice, finches in the urban site and tourist sites would much rather eat human foods than natural foods. Our results are interesting because they show that human behaviour can have consequences beyond what we observe

in urban areas. Human food consumption on the beaches has resulted in finches at a beach, kilometres away from an urban centre, developing a taste and preference for human foods. Essentially, humans are changing how Darwin’s finches interact with different resources, which may be changing the evolution of Darwin’s finches. We are continuing our research to further tease apart the direct and indirect consequences of humans and urbanisation on Darwin’s finches, so watch this space! This research was carried out by an international team of scientists from the United States (University of Massachusetts, Boston and Amherst), Canada (McGill University), Norway (Nord University), England (University of Cambridge) and Ecuador (Universidad San Francisco de Quito).

Darwin’s finches feed on a range of natural foods including seeds, fruits and insects - even those found on marine iguanas!

All images © Kiyoko Gotanda

With an increase in human population comes an increase in human foods, such as crisps, biscuits and bread.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

URBANISAT TION

URBANISATION ELSEWHERE IN GALAPAGOS by Clare Simm

ncreasing urbanisation is a well-documented threat to biodiversity globally. Urban areas support fewer species, roads and walls act as barriers to animals, and there is increasing human-wildlife conflict as they come into more frequent contact with each other.

It might seem surprising that urbanisation is having an effect on the wildlife of Galapagos – after all, 97% of the land is designated as Galapagos National Park (GNP) and therefore no-one lives there. With an increasing human population on the Islands, however, it follows that there will be increasing interactions with the unique species found there. The GNP is taking action against detrimental human behaviours. In late 2018, for example, they banned fireworks across the Archipelago as they were causing stress for a wide range of species, including Galapagos sea lions. Galapagos giant tortoises migrate long distances to ensure that they can use the best foraging and nesting sites. These migration routes on Santa Cruz now regularly cross agricultural lands and roads, bringing them into conflict with both traffic and farmers. Farmers often protect their crops from tortoises by erecting fences, which disrupt their migratory routes. There is also increasing human-wildlife conflict in the towns. Eyewitnesses now regularly see tortoises on the side of the main highway between Puerto Ayora and Baltra, and have reported at least one tortoise being hit and killed by a vehicle. There has been an incident where a tortoise has been bitten and injured by a dog in El Mirador (part of Puerto Ayora), and tortoises have also been seen scavenging in rubbish areas. The Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme, which GCT has been working with for several years, is working with farmers and other local residents to solve these issues and to inform future land management plans on the island. With a growing number of land-based tourists, there are more taxi boats and day trips occurring around the inhabited islands in

Galapagos. Around Isabela, which is home to the largest Galapagos green turtle nesting site, there could be an increase in the number of turtles hit by boats, especially pregnant females who tend to swim closer to the surface, increasing their vulnerability to propellers. In a study, led by the GNP, researchers found that of 1400 female turtles examined, 12% presented injuries that were consistent with boat strikes. This information is being used to inform management measures that will work to minimise this impact. The most notable road in Galapagos is the highway that crosses Santa Cruz from south to north. The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) estimates that the number of automobiles using the highway regularly has increased from around 28 in the 1980s to over 1100 today. Roads fragment habitats, act as barriers to migration routes and, as we all know, are the catalyst for many wildlife road deaths. CDF and the GNP are studying the impact of the Santa Cruz highway on birds. During monthly monitoring, they collected more than 268 landbirds that had been killed by collisions with cars. The actual number is probably higher due to removal of road kill by other species such as cats and owls. There is work on the island to make people aware of the speed limits on the roads to reduce this mortality. There is growing awareness amongst locals in Galapagos, and they are taking steps to prevent the effects of urbanisation on their native wildlife. Continued research is needed, however, to ensure that these threats into consideration, such as ensuring both boat and vehicle speeds are controlled throughout the Archipelago.

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

GLOBAL RELEVANCE

KEEP ON LOOKING

The Fernandina giant tortoise specimen collected during the 1906 California Academy expedition.

by Henry Nicholls

xtinction is forever. In most cases, this mantra holds true. But humans can be wrong and sometimes it turns out that species, once assumed to have vanished from the face of the Earth, are still with us. These stories of rediscovery are always exciting, worth retelling for the sheer thrill they inspire.

Take the woolly flying squirrel, for instance. The world’s largest flying squirrel known only from a few skins collected in Pakistan in the late 19th century and from a photograph snapped in 1924 of a British colonel leading one by a rope. For most of the 20th century, naturalists assumed that this bizarre mammal was no more. Then in the summer of 1994, the squirrel was rediscovered in the Northern Areas region of Pakistan by Peter Zahler, an American zoologist working for the Wildlife Conservation Society. All the valleys that Zahler combed and all the traps that he set had drawn a blank, when two men dropped into his camp and offered to supply a living squirrel in exchange for what was then around $40. Within a couple of hours, the men were back with an animal wriggling in a cloth bag. The men had known where to look because they were in the business of selling flying squirrel droppings reputed to have aphrodisiac properties. The woolly flying squirrel remains one of the least recorded mammals on the planet, but a recent survey has confirmed the continued existence of this species in a mountainous region in the northeast of Pakistan.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

The Galapagos Archipelago, with its large areas of protected, underexplored space, is exactly the sort of place in which to rediscover lost species. The most celebrated of these is Lonesome George, a giant tortoise from the island of Pinta, a species assumed extinct for more than 50 years until a snail biologist chanced upon this lone male in 1971. The Santiago rice rat offers a similar story, which until the 1990s was a species known only from specimens collected by the California Academy of Sciences in 1906. More than 90 years later, in 1997, American mammal biologist Robert Dowler was on Santiago and put out some traps to see what was there. The next morning, he was stunned to find 25 rice rats, an endemic species that had somehow managed to survive in spite of the threat from non-native black rats. Even more surprising is the rediscovery of the Fernandina giant tortoise in 2019 (see p. 6). During the California Academy expedition in 1906, naturalist Rollo Beck found a single male high up the side of a volcano and had “skinned the tortoise by moonlight.” This specimen, given the apt name Chelonoidis phantasticus, was the

only irrefutable evidence that Fernandina had ever harboured tortoises at all. So it is extraordinary that members of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative (GTRI) should have come across an adult female grazing on the south side of the volcano in February this year, more than 110 years after Rollo Beck’s initial discovery. In addition to being triumphs of human endeavour, rediscoveries like these are important because they challenge lazy assumptions about the natural world. They underscore how much we still have to fathom about our planet and the brilliant diversity of species in it. They also open up new opportunities for conservation and restoration. The Fernandina giant tortoise has been moved to Santa Cruz island and there is now hope that, with the successful experience of reintroducing tortoises to islands like Española, it may be possible to turn Chelonoidis phantasticus from a ghostly entity into a real, thriving species. Above all, stories of rediscovery celebrate the resolve of conservationists worldwide and their determination to keep on looking.

MEMBERSHIP G

alapagos Conservation Trust thrives because of the enthusiasm and loyalty of our supporters, who get involved in helping us in many different ways. This issue’s articles demonstrate just a few examples of different experiences by some of our supporters.

MAGICAL GALAPAGOS ENCOUNTERS

Islands through meeting local project staff, whilst also supporting GCT’s work, please contact kelly@gct.org or call our office. Once details are finalised they will be available online: galapagosconservation.org.uk/gct-cruise. Juvenile vermillion flycatcher spotted during the 2018 GCT Cruise.

LASTING LEGACIES

ver the last few years, several people have left GCT generous donations in their Wills. We receive such donations with mixed emotions – a sense of poignancy and sadness for the family, mixed with feelings of deep gratitude. There is also a feeling of empowerment that we are able to help fulfil someone’s last wishes – to put money to good use, knowing that it will benefit the wildlife of Galapagos. Mr Tony Stanhope became a GCT member after visiting Galapagos in 1997. Mrs Stanhope told us, “We went there three times, and each time was different. Tony loved taking videos of the wildlife – I will

never forget him swimming with turtles with his camera. He would have visited every year if he could and always wanted to leave money to GCT in his Will. One year he was lucky enough to win a Galapagos watch in a GCT raffle, which became his pride and joy.” The wildlife of Galapagos will continue to need help into the future. If you are passionate about its protection and would like to consider leaving GCT a gift in your Will, please do get in touch via email kelly@gct.org or by calling our office.

GIVING BACK

olunteering for GCT can be a lot of fun, as well as a rewarding and useful experience, as Avani Gupta explains. “I decided to take a year-long break from my degree to gain some valuable experience in the field of conservation and wanted to contribute my time to an NGO whose work I believed in. Even though I am usually sat behind a desk at GCT, after three months of volunteering, I feel as though I’ve been to Galapagos and back! I was struggling to see the purpose of my Biological Sciences degree but learning about GCT’s work and joining their team for two days a week has reignited my ambition, curiosity and passion for the planet. Whilst at GCT I’ve covered a broad range of tasks such as blog writing, event planning and I’ve even dabbled in HTML coding. I always enjoy creating infographics for Discovering Galapagos and more recently, I’ve been working with GCT’s database. I am confident

I will be able to use my newly developed skills in my final year at university. The GCT team has been so friendly and accommodating, and the lunch time chats are always fun!” We find it really useful to have volunteers who can help in our London office or at events. Please do get in contact with lisa@gct.org if you are interested in helping out.

To find out more about these and other ways to help GCT, please contact us in the office, email gct@gct.org or visit galapagosconservation.org.uk/get-involved

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

n May 2018, 15 travellers, along with our Chair, Dr Mark Collins, set off on a GCT cruise spending seven days around the Islands. Hilary and Ian Smellie were two of the guests, and have supported GCT since they went to Galapagos in 1997 on a 100-person ship. “We were looking for a different experience to our first trip. The GCT cruise was excellent, on a small boat, with our fantastic local guide Pablo and wonderful leader Mark. Both were so willing to share their knowledge with a great group of people from all walks of life. Highlights for us included the mating displays of the frigatebirds; many nesting waved albatrosses; seeing a juvenile vermilion flycatcher (Mark was very excited about this); visiting the more remote islands; snorkelling and kayaking; learning more about Darwin; and the comfort of the boat, not to mention the nibbles after excursions!” GCT will be organizing another cruise in 2020. If you are interested in magical wildlife encounters, learning more about the

E T H I C AL SH O P P I N G

REVIEWS EXPERIENCE GALAPAGOS: LIFE IN MOTION by Walter Perez and Michael Weisburg, Princeton University Press, 2018, £24.30 ISBN 9780691174136 Reviewed by Ben Stockwell

photographic celebration of the unique biodiversity of the Islands, Galapagos: Life in Motion brings to life some of the incredible animal behaviours that make Galapagos so special. The knowledge and passion of Walter Perez and Michael Weisberg, the former a photographer and naturalist who has lived in Galapagos for over two decades and the latter the co-director of the Galapagos Education and Research Alliance is evident throughout the book. The book is split into five sections, covering the different environmental zones, how species locate food, reproduce and interact, plus a chapter dedicated to the most iconic species of the Archipelago. Perez’s photos are the perfect accompaniment to the engaging text. For those who have visited the Islands, this book is the perfect way to relive your experiences, and for those yet to travel to Galapagos, it is certain to inspire a trip.

RADIANT ADAPTATION GALAPAGOS: THE ARCHIPELAGO’S SCIENCE AND NATURAL HISTORY by the Swiss Association of Friends of the Galapagos Islands, available from www.galapagos-ch.org, 29.50 CHF Reviewed by Henry Nicholls

his is a book I have been waiting for. I first visited Galapagos in 2003 and have been reading and writing about the Islands ever since. But I have not yet come across a guide to these magical islands so perfectly executed. The book is written by five scientists and friends of the Swiss Association who have lived and worked in Galapagos and their deep knowledge and understanding of the Archipelago is evident throughout, in sections on geology, the colonisation (by wildlife and humans), evolution, research, conservation and species identification. There are countless insightful asides about discoveries made in Galapagos from Charles Darwin onwards, the kind of stories that will excite readers and enrich any visit to the Islands, brought alive by more than 300 full-colour photographs and illustrations. All profits will go to the Swiss Association of Friends of Galapagos and be used to support research and conservation throughout the Islands.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

TEEMILL

f you haven’t visited our Teemill website yet, then don’t delay! We have a wide range of t-shirts, jumpers, hoodies and tote bags available, the profits of which go towards supporting our work. All of the products produced by Teemill are made from organic cotton, and the process from seed to product is continuously being improved to be as sustainable as possible including renewable energy at the factory to recirculated water. Our designs are all produced by GCT supporters and include whale sharks, tortoises and blue-footed boobies. Why not buy one for yourself, or as a gift? You can do so online at galapagosconservation.teemill.co.uk. We are always interested in new designs, so if you are interested in working with us, please get in touch with our Communications and Marketing team via comms@gct.org or call the office.

ADOPT A GALAPAGOS ANIMAL

uying one of our Galapagos adoptions is a great way to help conserve the Archipelago and its threatened species. These adoptions make great gifts throughout the year and there is something to please everyone Galapagos penguins and Floreana mockingbirds for the bird lovers, scalloped hammerheads for those who are keen on marine life, and Galapagos giant tortoises which everyone loves! Three of the adoptions come with cuddly toys, and the Floreana mockingbird adoption comes with a pin badge. All of them include a certificate and a fact file about the species. You can order one today using the form on the back page or online at galapagosconservation.org.uk/shop.

EVENTS

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

GALAPAGOS DAY

WEDNESDAY 30 OCTOBER 2019 19:00 - 22:00 (DOORS OPEN AT 18:00) ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, 1 KENSINGTON GORE, LONDON

ickets are now on sale for this year’s Galapagos Day which will take place on Wednesday 30 October at the Royal Geographical Society. The event will explore the threats affecting some of the Archipelago’s most endangered and iconic birds and reptiles. We’re pleased to announce that Juan Pablo Muñoz, our partner from the Galapagos Science Center, will be sharing his research on how plastic pollution affects species such as the Galapagos green turtle. We’re still finalising details, including the full line up of speakers, but we’ll confirm the full details of the event soon via our website and e-Newsletter, so please keep an eye out. Tickets are only £20 this year (£15 for students), so don’t miss out on securing your space - you can buy tickets using the form on the back of the magazine, or by calling the office on 020 7399 7440.

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: 9 JUNE 2019

and have entered the competition before, don’t miss out! Visit our website to see the competition rules, to gain inspiration from previous years, and to enter your winning Galapagos images! galapagosconservation.org.uk/get-involved/photographycompetition The competition is sponsored by Aqua-Firma Worldwide.

e have shaken things up in our Galapagos photography competition this year but there is still something for everyone. We have new categories, alongside some familiar ones, and have launched a brand new Young Photographer competition for anyone who is aged 17 or under - so there is truly something for everyone. If you think you have what it takes, please do enter your best shots to be in with a chance of winning. We are thrilled that last year’s judge and wildlife photographer Tui de Roy is back and will be joined by the leader of the Galapagos Whale Shark Project, and photographer, Jonathan Green. This year our categories are: Up close and personal, Animal behaviour, Landscape, Underwater, Urban life, and Environmental threats. With the addition of a new category, entrants will be allowed to enter up to six images in total. Whether you are recently returned from a trip to the Islands, or went a few years ago

Old timer smile - overall second place in the 2018 Galapagos Photography Competition.

SPRING | SUMMER 2019

CONTACT DETAILS

Please fill in your details below: Name: ........................................................................................... Address: ....................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... Post code:..................................................................................... Telephone:.................................................................................... Email:............................................................................................. If you are happy for us to contact you by email (including our monthly enewsletter) or telephone, please complete the field(s) above. You can unsubscribe at any time.

METHOD OF PAYMENT Please tick one: Cheque (payable to Galapagos Conservation Trust) Credit card

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NB: We do not accept American Express or Maestro.

Name on card: ........................................................................ Card no: .................................................................................. Expiry date:.............................................................................. Issue no / Start date:................................................................ Security code:..........................................................................

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.

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 to: Galapagos Conservation Trust, Charles Darwin Suite, 28 Portland Place, London, W1B 1LY Appeal

Total Price £

Make a donation to our Sharks appeal I would like to give: £30 / £50 / £100 / £300 / Other (please circle) to help protect migrating sharks

Galapagos Day tickets

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Galapagos Day tickets

20.00

Gifts

Price £

Marti the Hammerhead Shark: A Galapagos Journey book

20.00

Galapagos Endangered Bird Notelets by Mary Ellen Taylor

8.50

Wildlife of Galapagos book by Brandt Guides

12.00

Paperback edition of The Galapagos by Henry Nicholls

10.00

Adoptions – £30 each

Qty

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Qty

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Recipients Details

Total Price £

Name on certificate:

Galapagos Penguin Email for updates:

Name on certificate:

Giant Tortoise Email for updates:

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

Floreana Mockingbird (£25 including pin badge)

Name on certificate: Email for updates:

Postage & Packaging Charges All orders

Europe

ROW

1.50

5.00

10.00

Total Price £

TOTAL

All donations will go towards supporting conservation in Galapagos.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

Get yo c o p y ou r our ne f storyb w today ook j u s t £ 2f o r 0!

Every b ook tha t is boug ht in th e UK dur campai ing the gn, wil l fund one for a local child.

Join Marti, a young scalloped hammerhead shark, on her journey from her home in the Galapagos Islands to Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Meet Marti’s marine friends who share the magical, but perilous adventure across the Pacific Ocean. Discover more about the scientists who track these incredible journeys. Help us to protect these brave explorers on their journeys now and in the future.

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This beautifully illustrated book will capture children’s imagination as well as teach them more about the marine life of Galapagos. It is available to buy via the form on the back of this magazine, or from our online shop: galapagosconservation.org.uk/shop

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