Klemm Fellowship-Conservation in the Galapagos; Ecuador: Giant Tortoise & Sea Lion Conservation in the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands have a rich heritage as the birthplace of the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin in 1835. Today, the islands act as a hub for ecotourism, where people from all around the world visit to learn more about the history of the islands and their endemic fauna and flora. As a result, it is vital that we protect the fragile island ecosystems from anthropogenic contamination, invasive species, and species extinction. In December of 2019, through the Klemm Fellowship, I spent three weeks volunteering on the islands to combat these pervasive issues with the National Park Service of Ecuador and Projects Abroad. With machete-use, trash cleanups, species monitoring, and cultural immersion, I gained a multimodal understanding of the Galapagos Islands in a holistic manner.; I spent 3 weeks working full-time with the National Park rangers and authorities to participate in various conservation and animal monitoring activities on San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. Every other day, I went to the Galapaguera, the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre, where I would feed and care for the giant tortoises, as the national government worked to restore their populations. Invasive and exotic plants and animals act as major barriers to endemic specie population expansion. Given this, I also spent time eliminating and controlling introduced plants and rat populations to help create habitats in which endemic species, such as the giant tortoises and petrel birds, would be able to sustain their populations. Beginning at sunrise, I would walk along the island beaches to monitor fluctuations in sea lion population characteristics. Other activities included working in plant nurseries to assist restoring native vegetation, completing marine iguana surveys, cleaning the coastal beaches, and monitoring the petrel bird nests. Aside from the conservation work, I enjoyed the Ecuadorian cuisine, practicing my Spanish, and meeting other international volunteers who shared the same passion for maintaining and caring for the environment.