Galapagos Islands: Endangered Species

The Catt-Trax2 Team — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 11:08:07 -0800

Report prepared by Meaghan Leslie-Gottschligg and Scott Grimsrud, students in BCIT's Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program.

According to The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List, there are twenty-one threatened wildlife species in the Galapagos Islands. Long term monitoring, habitat restoration and breeding programs are being used to ensure the futures of these species. Some examples are:

The Galapagos petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) is critically endangered
The Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is endangered.
The Galapagos cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi ) is endangered
The Galapagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is vulnerable
The Galapagos land iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) is vulnerable
The Galapagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) is vulnerable
The Galapagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) is vulnerable
The Galapagos giant tortoise (Geochelone nigra) is vulnerable

According to the Darwin Foundation, 260 endemic plant species and subspecies occur on the islands. Almost ten percent of them are critically endangered, fifteen percent are endangered, and almost forty percent are vulnerable. Of the threatened plants some require close monitoring and others require active protection. Invasive plant species, feral mammals, and human impacts are being managed to prevent further damage.

Catt-Trax 2 - Galapagos Islands: Endangered Species - Comments

Galapagos Islands: Endangered Species

Related Links