The Galapagos Islands are renowned for their rich wildlife and their historical significance in shaping Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Here are some intriguing facts about the wildlife and the islands:
1. Charles Darwin’s Impact:
Charles Darwin’s visit to the Galapagos Islands had a significant impact on the formation of his Theory of Natural Selection. His observations of the unique creatures on the islands, perfectly adapted to their environments, led him to ponder the origin of the islands’ inhabitants .
Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was influenced by his observations of species on the Galapagos Islands, which seemed related to those found on the mainland but also had many physical variations unique to different islands .
2. Biodiversity:
The Galapagos Islands are famous for their vast numbers of endangered and endemic species, rich biodiversity, and isolated Pacific location .
The islands are a mecca for tropical seabirds, including Blue-footed, Red-footed, and Nazca Boobies, Flightless Cormorants, Great and Magnificent Frigatebirds, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Waved Albatross, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Gulls, Galapagos Penguins, and many more .
3. Marine Life:
The Galapagos Marine Reserve is an underwater wildlife spectacle with abundant life ranging from corals to sharks to penguins to marine mammals. It offers a unique diving experience with a diversity of marine life forms that are familiar with human beings, accompanying divers .
4. Whaling History:
The Galapagos Islands served as the main Pacific base for whalers until the discovery, in 1819, of the rich whaling grounds to the northwest of Japan. The islands were a key whaling area due to the breeding grounds for sperm whales and the deep water feeding areas of the species to the west of the islands .
5. Endemic Species:
While a large majority of the land birds are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, there are only six endemic species among the seabirds: the Galapagos Penguin, Flightless Cormorant, Waved Albatross, Galapagos Petrel, Lava Gull, and Swallow-tailed Gull .