Santa Cruz Island
“The day on which I visited the little craters, was glowing hot, and the rambling over the rough surface, and through the intricate thickets, was very fatiguing; but I was repaid by the Cyclopian scene. In my walk I met two large tortoises, each of which must have weighed at least 200 pounds. One was eating a piece of cactus, and when I approached, it looked at me, and then quietly walked away: the other gave a deep hiss and drew in its head. These huge reptiles, surrounded by the black lava, the leafless shrubs, and large cacti, appeared to my fancy like some antediluvian animals”. The great naturalist Charles Darwin wrote this vivid passage in his famous book the Voyage of the Beagle.
Today in the afternoon we had the privilege to observe these gentle giants roaming in the highlands in the wild. They shared their world with us. In respectful silence many of us were contemplating these reptiles for a long time. Some people were taking pictures, others were just fascinated by the fact we were so close to these tortoises. They are the namesake of these enchanted Islands in the Pacific. They are our emblem and trademark. They represent all our efforts in conservation in the islands. These are the Galapagos giant tortoises that influenced Charles Darwin in his time, and continue to influence us today.
“The day on which I visited the little craters, was glowing hot, and the rambling over the rough surface, and through the intricate thickets, was very fatiguing; but I was repaid by the Cyclopian scene. In my walk I met two large tortoises, each of which must have weighed at least 200 pounds. One was eating a piece of cactus, and when I approached, it looked at me, and then quietly walked away: the other gave a deep hiss and drew in its head. These huge reptiles, surrounded by the black lava, the leafless shrubs, and large cacti, appeared to my fancy like some antediluvian animals”. The great naturalist Charles Darwin wrote this vivid passage in his famous book the Voyage of the Beagle.
Today in the afternoon we had the privilege to observe these gentle giants roaming in the highlands in the wild. They shared their world with us. In respectful silence many of us were contemplating these reptiles for a long time. Some people were taking pictures, others were just fascinated by the fact we were so close to these tortoises. They are the namesake of these enchanted Islands in the Pacific. They are our emblem and trademark. They represent all our efforts in conservation in the islands. These are the Galapagos giant tortoises that influenced Charles Darwin in his time, and continue to influence us today.
