The Galapagos Islands are truly unique in both their landscape and wildlife. Unfortunately however, over the years the islands have been subjected to many conservational problems that have threatened to destroy its delicate ecosystem. Some of these began as early as the nineteenth century, when whalers and sealers arrived and nearly hunted the very animals that supported their business to extinction, as well as the giant tortoises, which they slaughtered in great numbers for food. Scientists, who were beginning to take an interest in the islands after the publication of Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species,” also arrived in the Galapagos to collect specimens for study, particularly the giant tortoise, which they feared wouldn’t last long anyway. When the California Academy of Science held the first comprehensive census of the island’s wildlife from 1905-06, the fact that they recorded only one epidemic fur seal in the entire year long study proved the impending threat imposed on the wildlife of the Galapagos. 

In 1954 when the scientist Eibl Eibesfeldt visited the islands, he was amazed by the diversity and uniqueness of the wildlife, but appalled at the state it was in. Although many of the islands were declared wildlife sanctuaries in 1934, there was little administration in the sparsely populated islands to enforce this law. Giant tortoises were routinely being captured for food or sold as pets, the fearless seals and birds were being stoned or shot for sport, and domestic animals brought in by the settlers were destroying the native vegetation. Eibl reported his alarm to the Government of Ecuador, the recently formed International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), as well as many scientists and conservationists. In 1959, drawn to the need for conservation in the Galapagos at Eibl’s warning, Ecuador declared 95% of the islands a National Park.

Since the park was established, things have greatly improved for the Galapagos and its wildlife. The lion and fur seals once so close to extinction had populations of nearly 50,000 each in the 90s, and although many subspecies of the giant tortoise are still in danger of extinction, breeding programs have been introduced and appear to be doing successfully. However, problems are still present. The number of escaped domestic animals is still high despite numerous attempts of eradication, a rapid decrease of rangers in the 80’s allowed illegal operations such as fisheries to frequently appear, and the booming tourism industry brought with it erosion and injured animals caused by careless visitors. From 1997-98, another conservational disaster occurred in the form of El Nino, which brought a surge of warm water currents to the archipelago. The fish around the islands were forced to search for cooler water, leaving the islands’ seals and coastal birds without this vital food source. Several birds abandoned the sites they had used for years, and many seals, particularly the young, died from lack of food. The fur seals, which rely almost entirely on the fish that live closest to the surface, were affected the hardest; all the fur seals from the ages of 1-4 were virtually wiped out.

Another environmental landmark occurred in March 6th 1998, when after many years of effort the Ecuadorian National Congress passed special legislation for the Galapagos Conservation Law. This law includes such regulations as controlling introduced species by means of eradication and a quarantine inspection system, providing tax incentives for organizations that train local residents, promoting environmental education, regulating human population size, allowing 50% of tourist dollars to support the island’s conservation, and the expansion of the reserve boundaries to 40 miles around the archipelago within only tourism and local artisanal fishing boats are allowed. 

Although many problems still exist in the Galapagos, its future still appears optimistic. With more breeding programs being introduced, more available training for rangers and in the past years, and the legislation of the Galapagos Conservation Law, the delicate ecosystem of the Galapagos should continue to fascinate and intrigue visitors and residents for years to come.