The name Galapagos itself is a calling card that beckons you and thousands of tourists to its spectacular landscape and endemic species. After all, who would not want to visit such unique islands with no natural predators?
Galapagos, bartolome island
However, it is the fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos,which is under threat from a booming tourism industry, a growing local population and the introduction of invasive species.
A group of marine iguanas on the Galapagos Islands
These volcanic islands, 1,000km (625 miles) west of Ecuador’s coast, inspired naturalist Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. However, now the government has been forced to halt tourism to the Galapagos.
Blue footed boobies The islands unique species include centenarian giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and even vampire finches. Nazca booby (masked booby) Sula granti
These are under pressure from non-natives species such as black rats, dogs, goats and cats which have been steadily introduced since British pirates visited the islands in the 18th century. Illegal fishing is also dramatically reducing the sea life around the islands especially of sharks and sea cucumbers. Giant tortoises
Thousands of people visit the Galapagos each year and the permanent population has increased in line with tourism. More than 30,000 people are believed to live on the islands but about half do so illegally.
Prohibiting people from visiting the island will only result in illegal tourism, a better idea would be to have only very specific numbers of tourists visit. After all tourism and fishing is the mainstay of the islands economy. Tourism revenue could be channeled into conservation, it would be a good means to sustain these islands as well.
Source: Telegraph
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