Galapagos Charles Darwin Research Station

One of the places to visit while travelling on any of our Galapagos cruises is the Charles Darwin Research Station which was founded in 1964 in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. This place is really important because many research projects are conducted there, as well as monitoring and conservation of the marine and terrestrial species that inhabit the islands and their environment.

Here, I give you some information about this Station which is importance to the preservation of the islands.

Preservation of Galapagos endangered species

The Research Station has worked on different projects for recovering various species considered extinct, during nearly 50 years it has been operating the research station, photo recovery projects undertaken several species considered extinct, like the tree daisy and Floreana plax. It has also recovered species seriously endangered and, through studies and successful projects, it has been send back home some species to their originating islands, which have been repopulate.

In 1971 the CDF found the last surviving tortoise of the Pinta Island, Lonesome George, and took him to Santa Cruz to reproduce this specie in the breeding center of the Research Station. But, unfortunately, in 2012 Lonesome George died childless.

Education programs

The Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos works extensively in scientific research and welcomes researchers and scholars worldwide. But, it also carries out projects in education for people visiting the islands by Galapagos cruises or by other mean, creating awareness among the population of the islands and visitors of the importance and urgency of preserving this unique corner of the planet, which was named Natural Heritage in 1978. The CDF has environmental education centers in Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal.

The Charles Darwin Research Station is located close to the center of Puerto Ayora and there you can be found several important services for education and knowledge of the islands. Here you can find showrooms with information about all the islands, the species that inhabit them and the conservation efforts that are carried out. Also there is a tortoise breeding center where they take care of the species to reintroduce them to the islands after a while.

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There is no doubt that the work of The Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos is essential for the conservation of the islands, not only for its scientific contribution, but because it helps educate and strangers to help the environment.

So if you want to meet this place and all the beauty of the islands do not think it more and book a place on any of our Galapagos cruises, Contact us now!

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