Galapagos Day 6 (12/8): Santa Cruz Island.
Puerto Ayora, a town of about 18,000, has the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS)
and breeding programs for tortoises. In the afternoon, we visit a school, and a
different ecosystem, the Santa Cruz Highland Tortoises in the afternoon
One per candy jar! I'm sure Darwin had more trouble finding the finches!
CDRS saving tortoises - seems to have a healthy appetite.
Also saving some subspecies of iguanas.
Chronicles the efforts to save tortoise species.
Archway on the walk to the town.
Downtown Puerto Ayora
Man cleaning fish creates a feeding frenzy of pelicans and one seal lion.
A few lobsters, too.
Visiting Scalesia Galapagos, a school emphasizing environmental understanding
Schoolgirl enjoys a ball game.
An owl joins us for lunch!
We visit a farm that grows coffee and sugar cane, using old techniques.
Old grinder for sugar cane.
Also use the sugar to distil an alcohalic drink - would you like that with or without anise?
Tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands
We walked out into the fields and began to look. Here is tortoise #1 that I found.
Tortoise #1
Tortoise #2 (note different front to the carapace so he can reach higher for leaves)
Tortoise #2
Tortoise #3
Tortoise #3, keeping an eye on me!
Wipe your lips, please.
They are very patient, or are we here for their entertainment?
Native dances at the party that evening.
