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Carlos Espinosa/CDF
Carlos Espinosa/CDF
Carlos Espinosa/CDF
Carlos Espinosa/CDF
Carlos Espinosa/CDF
Carlos Espinosa/CDF
A Silent Hero: The Australian Ladybug

In the heart of the Galapagos Islands, a tiny, unexpected hero emerged in 2002 that would change the course of conservation. The Australian ladybug (Novius cardinalis), small in size but immensely effective, became a crucial ally in the fight against an invasive insect that threatened to devastate the endemic flora of these islands. This is the story of how science, innovation, and nature itself came together to help preserve one of the most valuable biological treasures on the planet.

Archive CDF
The 1985 Decision That Sustained Conservation in Galápagos

In 1985, the Charles Darwin Foundation created the Darwin Scientific Foundation in the United States to manage an endowment built with The Nature Conservancy and the Smithsonian. It allowed American donors to make tax-deductible contributions and gave scientific work in Galápagos stable, long-term funding that still endures four decades later.