Two groundbreaking studies led by Stephen Blake, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology at Saint Louis University and Sharon L. Deem, DVM, Director of Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, in collaboration with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and teams of multidisciplinary scientists shed light on crucial aspects of the conservation of two critically endangered giant tortoise species endemic to the Island of Santa Cruz, Chelonoidis porteri and Chelonoidis donfaustoi. Both studies offer valuable insights into the challenges these emblematic species face and the strategies needed to ensure their survival in the face of potential future habitat alteration and climate change.

By adopting a Galapagos giant tortoise, you will contribute to our research and outreach activities related to various tortoise species. The Galapagos tortoises have become threatened largely due to habitat change and fragmentation, climate change, diseases, and introduced species. The Charles Darwin Foundation leads a multi-institutional project that aims to determine movement behavior, assess health, and describe the ecological role of tortoises in the Galapagos ecosystems.

Join the Pristine Galapagos Society and become part of the history books of the Galapagos Islands

Behind the Floreana Finches "Flight Home": Q&A with biologist Professor Sonia Kleindorfer

Come work for the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos! Explore our current vacancies and find your place in protecting this extraordinary archipelago.

Together, we can ensure that the Galapagos Islands remain a beacon of biodiversity and scientific inspiration. Donate today!

The Charles Darwin Research Station is home to the largest Natural History Collections of endemic, native and introduced species of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. It is also one of the largest in the world with over 135,000 specimens from more than 7,500 species.

While the Galapagos Islands remain one of the best-conserved destinations in the world, they are faced with numerous challenges that are derived from growth in tourism and local population. The Charles Darwin Foundation is investigating how sustainable practices across multiple sectors such as urban planning and energy can mitigate these impacts while enhancing local community well-being through the health of the islands' socio-ecosystems.