The Charles Darwin Research Center collects and produces clutches of eggs and raises them to maturity, before returning them to their natural habitat. You can find clutches from different islands and years. This generation comes from a batch collected on Isla Santiago in 2016 (photo taken in 2018).
Population: ~15,000 across various subspecies
Causes of Endangerment:
Habitat destruction (agriculture, invasive species)
Poaching for food in the past
Conservation Efforts:
Breeding programs and reintroductions
Invasive species control (e.g., eradication of rats and goats)
Population: ~2,000 individuals
Causes of Endangerment:
Climate change (El Niño events reduce food supply)
Oil spills and fishing nets
Conservation Efforts:
Habitat restoration and protection of breeding areas
Marine protected areas limiting human activity
Population: ~10,000 to 15,000 individuals
Causes of Endangerment:
Overfishing reducing food availability
Disease outbreaks and climate-related events
Conservation Efforts:
Monitoring and protection of breeding areas
Regulations on fishing within the marine reserve
Population: ~100 individuals
Causes of Endangerment:
Habitat destruction (mangrove cutting)
Parasitism by invasive species like the avian vampire fly
Conservation Efforts:
Breeding programs and habitat restoration
Eradication of invasive species and parasites
wild Tortoise in Puerto Ayora Santa Cruz.MOVwild penguins at isla bartolome.MOVsea lions swimming in puerto baquerizo moreno san cristobal.MOVfinch.MOV
