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GALAPAGOS
NATIONAL PARK
There are no words that can describe the thrill of the
Galapagos Islands, where animals appear unafraid of people like in Paradise. But
don't be mistaken, that they are not concerned. Parenting animals are most
certainly alarmed for their young when you get too close, so be considerate and
keep a respectful distance. Always obey the instructions of your guide.
We at Neotropic Turis / Cuyabeno Lodge can help you find
the most suitable yacht for your or boat for your trip. Since we have no boat of
our own, we don't try sell you our own boat, but in stead we try to find you the
best deal for your money, only taking a small commission for our mediation.
Moreover, we coordinate it perfectly with our Amazon trip, your city program and
whatever program you have on mainland Ecuador or elsewhere in South America.
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| The Nazca Booby, Sula
granti, is a common breeder on Galapagos and can be found along the
tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. |
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| The Blue-footed Booby (Sula
nebouxii) is a common breeding bird of Galapagos and many other tropical
and subtropical islands of the Pacific Ocean. They rarely leave the nest
when approached by people, but that does not mean they are not
disturbed. When people get close, their heart rates go up dramatically
and they are very much alarmed. So always keep your distance, always
watch out for unprotected eggs on your trail and strictly obey the
instructions of your guide. |
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| There are15 Darwin's finches placed in the
tanager family; most on the Galápagos Islands and one on Cocos Island of
Costa Rica. The Galapagos specimens were first collected by Charles
Darwin during the second voyage of the Beagle and were quite important
for the development of the evolution theory. |
Frigatebirds belong to the family
of Fregatidae. There are five species in the single genus Fregata of
which the Magnificent Frigate Bird,
Fregata magnificens, and Great
Frigate Bird,
Fregata minor, roam the skies of the Galapagos
Islands as well as breed there in several colonies. They have long
wings, tails and bills and the males have a red gular pouch that is
inflated during the breeding season to attract a mate. They are are
pelagic piscivores which obtain most of their food on the wing. Part of
their food is obtained by chasing other seabirds until they give up
their catch. |
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Prickly Pear of the genus Opuntia, Opuntia
spp., is represented in Galapagos by six species and fourteen endemic
varieties. It grows on the lower elevations of the islands where
rainfall is low and is a staple food for the Galapagos Land Iguanas and
Galapagos Tortoises. |
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| The Galapagos Islands are named
after these old giant tortoises, which are called "galapagos" in
Spanish. Galapagos Tortoises, Geochelone nigra that can live up
to several centuries and during the early worldwide trading age, they
were prised food stock as they could survive months without food and
water, thus providing fresh meet to crews. Sailors would load
their ships with hundreds of tortoises, thus decimating their numbers to
levels in which extinction became almost inevitable. Thanks to half a
century of captive breeding and conservation measures in cooperation
between the Darwin Foundation and the Government of Ecuador, populations
of most subspecies are slowly recovering to levels that allow them to
survive again in the wild on the islands of their origin. |
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| The Galapagos Land Iguana,
Conolophus subcristatus, is a species of lizard in the Iguanidae
family endemic to the Galápagos Islands. The Galapagos Land Iguana
varies in size and coloration among different islands.There are two
taxonomically distinct forms of Conolophus inhabiting the western
part of the islands(C. rosada and C. pallidus) and one in
the central part (C. subcristatus). |
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| Galapagos Land Iguanas are
typically unafraid of people and feed on the abundant Prickly Pear or
Opuntia Cactus. It is always amazing how they devour a cactus leaf with
prickles and all. Beware you don't get too close to these animals and
never try to touch them. Their bite can be extremely painful! |
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| The "red rock crab", "abuete
negro", Grapsus grapsus, is common along the entire
Pacific coast of Central America and Mexico and nearby islands. It is
one of the many charismatic species that inhabits the Galápagos Islands
and occurring in great numbers along the water line, they are a charming
colorful attraction to all the visitors of the islands and a thankful
object for photographers. |
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| The Galápagos Sea Lion (Zalophus
wollebaeki) is an endemic species of Ecuador, only breeding on the
Galápagos Islands and Isla de la Plata. This playful Sea Lion is very
common on the Galapagos islands and during mating season the males round
up large pack of females. It is great swimming among these young and
curious animals, but only away from the harems, because the heavy bulls
are dangerous and are known to have attacked people that have come too
close to their harem. Always follow the instructions of your guide.
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