The Galapagos Islands, about 900 kilometers off Ecuador’s coast, are famous for the wildlife that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Species found nowhere else include the Galapagos tortoise, marine iguana, and flightless cormorant.
Ecuador created the Galapagos National Park in 1959. About 97% of the islands’ land area is protected, and the park works with the Charles Darwin Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to research and conservation in the archipelago.
Conservation has had real successes. Captive breeding and habitat restoration have helped Galapagos tortoise populations recover, and the islands are often described as retaining about 95% of their original biodiversity. The main threat now is invasive species such as feral goats, rats, and introduced plants, which compete with or prey on native wildlife.
Tourism brings hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, funding conservation but also adding pressure. Quito, Ecuador’s capital, serves as the main gateway and administrative center for conservation programs.
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