Sometimes when you're tired, any dinghy will do.

This guy really wanted to see what was outside the gate.

An example of the many conservation efforts. Hatched 2024, from Santiago Island (per sign on front)

Really new: hatched just this year! Will be returned to Floreana when old enough.

It was fun watching this guy navigate his descent.

Not overly thrilled w/ have his pic raken.

Two of many tortoises around the property.

Back to the traditional 'tortoise pace'.

Hard to see, but the song from this bird was beautiful.

Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

February 26 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

We had an interesting visit to the Charles Darwin Foundation where we viewed various turtle conservation efforts as well as see the famed (taxidermied) 'Lonesome George '.
Lonesome George was a male Pinta Island tortoise and the last known individual of the subspecies. In his last years, he was known as the rarest creature in the world. He was hatched c.1910 & died (of natural causes) in 2012. George still serves as an important symbol for conservation efforts in the Galápagos Islands and throughout the world. The cost to preserve his body was ~$30k; but the total cost to build a facility to display him was ~$2mil (US$2012). That's one pricey turtle.
Lunch was at an eco-friendly giant tortoise reserve where there are scads of giant tortoises around the property; we just went out & wandered amongst them.Read more