1.
Galapagos Giant Tortoise.
Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone nigra vandenburghi)from Vulcan Alcedo on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
The Alcedo volcano has the largest number (about 4000) of wild giant tortoises of any of the volcanoes in the Galapagos.In 1983 there were no goats. In 1998 it was estimated that there were about 75,000 goats living on the volcano. The goats virtually defoliated the volcano, threatening one of the best tortoise habitats.
To combat this Project Isabela was undertaken to eradicate the goats from northern Isabela island by the National Park and the Darwin Foundation. The project was completed in 2006 with all goats on northern Isabela Island being removed; following the project there has been a rapid recovery of small trees and shrubs that are associated with the native habitat.
I visited Vulcan Alcedo in 1993 and saw the about 350 of the giant tortoises on the caldera rim, most of them wallowing in temporary rain pools. We also saw thousands of goats and I’m glad that they are now eradicated.
Hopefully this fantastic place will recover completely .
2.
Chinstrap Penguins rookery.
Chinstrap Penguins rookery. The old caldera at Bailey Head is home to more than 200.000 birds. Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.
One of the biggest and best chinstrap penguin colonies in the world spread dramatically over black sand volcanic hills stretching up to impossibly high ridges.
The steep slopes tinged with green algae, chinstrap penguins breed on almost every inch of the landscape. Cliffs covered in lichens and mosses tower behind the birds.
The volcanic nature of the island seems to melt snows earlier, giving these chinstraps and advantageously long breeding season.
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