The Eastern Tropical Pacific conceals extraordinary, vast deep-ocean ecosystems, plunging from oceanic islands to depths of 3,800 meter, most of which remain largely unexplored, presenting real challenges for effective protection and management. Despite their significance, these ecosystems are poorly understood and subject to persistent threats, including overfishing, climate change, pollution, and the prospect for deep-sea mining.

12 Little Vermilion Flycatcher chicks fledge the nest, in most successful nesting season yet in Santa Cruz Island

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.

In an interview, renowned Galapagos volcanologist Dennis Geist tells us a bit more about the 2024 eruption and volcanic activity in Galapagos.

Gislayne Mendoza Alcívar, our lab technician was interviewed by our donor, Galapagos Conservation Trust, in which she shares her experience in studying the health of some of the islands' most endangered birds.