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Since the Galapagos Islands are the result of an underwater
volcanic eruption and hence were never connected to the mainland,
the variety of wildlife which inhabits the islands could only have found
their way to it by swimming, flying or floating across on bits of vegetation
thousands of years ago. Because
of this separation from mainland predators and competition, there are
many species here that are not found anywhere else on earth,
and which are relatively unafraid of people.
Seals, penguins and other birds will let you come as close as a
few feet away from them and will sometimes even come up to inspect you!
 Of
all the animals on the Galapagos, the giant tortoises are perhaps
the most famous. These giants
can live up to 150 years and can only be found in the Galapagos. In the 18th and 19th centuries, whalers
and sealers killed thousands of tortoises and now only about 15,000
remain. However, breeding
projects have been very successful in bringing many of the separate subspecies
back from near extinction. A
good place to go to see these giant reptiles is in the Charles Darwin
Research Station, located on Academy Bay in Puerto Ayora, where you
can see young tortoises and hatchlings, and actually climb into some pens
to pet older tortoises. You
can also try the Tortoise Reserve in the Highlands of Santa Cruz
Island, and the visitors who make the trip to the rim of the Alcedo Volcano
on Isabella Island are sure to see a small "herd" of tortoises, which
make this area their home. Other reptiles include marine turtles, which can
be seen during their mating season in the later part of the year in secluded
lagoons, and both marine and land iguanas, which are often seen basking
on lava rock shores.
 There
are 58 resident bird species on the Galapagos, nearly half
of which are endemic (don't breed anywhere else in the world).
Among these are waved albatross, pelicans, flamingos, flightless
cormorants, blue footed, red footed, and masked boobies and Galapagos'
penguins, the most northerly penguins in the world.
The birds on the islands are so plentiful, even the most casual
visitor is certain to see 20 to 30 different species in the course of
a week.
 The
Galapagos Islands are also home to two types of seals, the sea lion,
a subspecies of the Californian sea lion, and the Galapagos fur seal.
Sea lions are spotted very frequently along rocky beaches and shores
and often amuse visitors with their above and underwater antics.
The males can be quite aggressive so it is recommended
not to approach them too closely.
Females and young however are extremely playful, and will sometimes
fearlessly approach swimmers and divers.
Fur seals are shyer and are less commonly seen.
The majority live in the northern and western parts of the archipelago. There are also seven species of whales you might
see when cruising between islands, the finback, humpback, sei, killer,
pilot, minke and sperm whales. Bottle-nosed
dolphins are often spotted surfing the bow waves of boats.
At night, these dolphins cause the ocean to glow when they
stir up thousands of tiny phosphorescent creatures, which glow when disturbed.
Also sometimes seen are the common and spinner dolphins.
 The
fish of Galapagos are equally intriguing.
There are 307 species of fish around the islands and it
is expected that more will be discovered.
Snorkeling in the Galapagos is an incredible experience
since schools containing thousands of colorful tropical fish are routinely
seen. Several species
of shark are also often spotted, including hammerheads and the white-tipped
reef shark. The sharks of
Galapagos have never been known to attack or injure a human swimmer, but
you should leave the water if you cut or graze yourself.
Other underwater creatures include several species of ray, colorful
crabs, sea urchins, anemones, starfish and coral.
The
Galapagos also have a rich diversity of plant life.
In the highlands bromeliads, orchids and the endemic Scalesia or
tree daisy can be found, while along the coasts giant
prickly pears, and incredible candelabra cacti thrive.
The islands also have several endemic species
such as their own cotton, tomato, pepper,
guava and passion flower plants.
For
more background visit the
Charles Darwin Foundation website.
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