G a l a pag o s at R i s k
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ituated at the confluence of cold and warm water ocean currents, the Galapagos marine ecosystem is a unique environment where sea lions swim with fur seals and penguins. As global climate change shifts long-term weather patterns and impacts our oceans, marine species found nowhere else on earth, including corals, Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, and many more, are at risk.
b y t h e G a l a pa g o s C o n s e r va n c y in Galapagos waters. With the results of this study, we will arm Galapagos National Park officials with the best available data to
Galapagos Conservancy focuses exclusively on the long-term conservation of the Galapagos Islands, leveraging a worldwide network of scientists, working alongside the people of Galapagos, and ensuring the exchange of lessons learned between Galapagos and the rest of the world. Current research on blue-footed boobies, in collaboration with a Wake Forest University scientist, shows significant population decline, apparently linked to a scarcity of herring and sardine, no longer abundant
develop management scenarios for this iconic sea bird. Rarest of all penguins, the Galapagos penguin never fully recovered from its massive
Photos: (top) Gerald and Buff Corsi, (bottom) Sabine van der Meulen 36 ORIGINMAGAZINE.COM
population decline during the 1982-83 El Niño. Since then, several nest sites have been destroyed, some by the tsunami triggered by the 2011 earthquake in Japan. With a University of Washington scientist, we are building artificial nests, nicknamed “penguin condos,” and closely monitoring the population. With additional nesting sites, the population can increase providing a buffer during the stronger, more frequent El Niño events predicted with climate change. Beyond science, Galapagos Conservancy is committed to helping Galapagos residents and visitors to become stewards of this World Heritage Site. By complementing targeted research with innovative education and capacity-building programs, we can ensure that the magnificent flora of Galapagos remain healthy and abundant. None of this would be possible without the generous support of an international network of donors who care about this special place. galapagos.org