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

Between 1973 and 1999, marine ecologist Gerard Wellington collected 773 specimens in Galapagos, now housed at the Charles Darwin Research Station. They include the solitary coral named after him, considered possibly extinct until its rediscovery in 2024. His collection provides a historical baseline for measuring how the ocean is changing.

Scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation’s shark ecology and conservation program and collaborators, have published what is likely the first-ever scientifically recorded birthing migration for the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini).

Wolf, Kup, and Pinta are three detection dogs donated by the Charles Darwin Foundation to Ecuador’s National Police to strengthen efforts against illegal trafficking of protected species in Galápagos. Trained to detect biological material, these dogs represent an innovative conservation and control tool for safeguarding the archipelago’s biodiversity.

The Charles Darwin Foundation and WWF launch project "Habla Tiburón" to promote the conservation of sharks and rays and empower fishing communities in mainland and insular Ecuador

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

While diving in Galapagos, Erika De la Cruz encountered a hammerhead shark unlike any she’d seen before—one with a curved spine. What began as a routine dive turned into a groundbreaking scientific discovery. Read her story of wonder, resilience, and the power of observation beneath the waves.

Galápagos green sea turtles play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. At Quinta Playa, scientists monitor their nesting activity to better understand the impacts of climate change. This research provides critical information to protect one of the most important green turtle nesting populations in the Eastern Pacific.

The Ministry of Environment of Panama and the Charles Darwin Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the transboundary protection of the migratory scalloped hammerhead shark and advance the recovery of their populations within the Eastern Tropical Pacific.