The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) is pleased to announce that 16 individuals of the rare plant Scalesia retroflexa were found growing on the steep, rocky coastal slopes of the southeastern point of Santa Cruz Island. Scientists from CDF’s Galapagos Verde 2050 ecological restoration team, in collaboration with rangers from the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), made this discovery during a recent expedition, renewing hope for the survival of this endemic species.

A scientific team led by the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and the California Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) has confirmed that Rhizopsammia wellingtoni—a solitary coral thought to be lost for a generation— is alive and clinging to Galapagos’ underwater cliffs.

Scientists on a Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition have discovered a new hydrothermal vent field larger than a professional soccer field. The vent field found in the Pacific Ocean off the Western Galápagos Islands consists of five geyser-like chimneys and three hot springs, like those you might see in Yellowstone.

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) is excited to launch its Ambassador Program, a platform for passionate advocates who share our vision of protecting the Galapagos Islands—one of our planet’s most extraordinary natural treasures—through science and conservation action.

The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) is excited to launch its Ambassador Program, a platform for passionate advocates who share our vision of protecting the Galapagos Islands—one of our planet’s most extraordinary natural treasures—through science and conservation action.

The Charles Darwin Foundation and Oceans Finance Company are delighted to announce a strategic partnership aimed at advancing crucial long-term conservation initiatives to enhance resilience to climate change in the archipelago and surrounding areas.

Park rangers from the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), in collaboration with scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), have discovered two new areas of Scalesia cordata on Sierra Negra volcano, located in southern Isabela Island. This discovery marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to preserve this critically endangered species, which has seen its natural habitat severely reduced.

Park rangers from the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), in collaboration with scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), have discovered two new areas of Scalesia cordata on Sierra Negra volcano, located in southern Isabela Island. This discovery marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to preserve this critically endangered species, which has seen its natural habitat severely reduced.

The Galapagos Rail (Laterallus spilonota) has been confirmed on Floreana Island for the first time in 190 years. This follows a 2023 eradication campaign that removed most invasive cats and rats, likely aiding its survival. Researchers will conduct genetic testing to determine if the species recolonized or persisted undetected.

Scientists Discover a Novel Herpesvirus in Galapagos Pink Land Iguana

The woodpecker finch of San Cristobal has been identified as a potential new species (Camarhynchus striatipecta), according to groundbreaking research just published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Previously considered one of three subspecies of the woodpecker finch (Camarhynchus pallidus), this population is now identified as a genetically distinct lineage. These findings mark a significant revision to the taxonomy of Darwin’s tree finches and scientists propose C. striatipecta as a newly recognized species.

Silky shark's record-breaking migration of more than 27,000 km on the Tropical Eastern Pacific sheds light on urgent conservation need

Silky shark's record-breaking migration of more than 27,000 km on the Tropical Eastern Pacific sheds light on urgent conservation need

Study reveals urgent need for large scale invasive species management to prevent extinction of endemic forest in the Galapagos Islands

Andrea Daniela Coloma is a marine bird researcher and devoted mother of two, proving that science and motherhood can thrive side by side. Discover how her passion for conservation, rooted in the Galapagos, intersects with family life—and how the Charles Darwin Foundation supports this meaningful balance. Read her story.

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.