Galapagos Report: Part 3a -Floreana Island

Much of IWC’s support of the Charles Darwin Foundation is being used for one of the Foundation’s flagship projects, the restoration of Floreana Island.

Floreana was the first inhabited island of the Galapagos, but today only has about 60 people, in about 20 families, living there. It is, by my standards, a remote and desolate place. Given IWC’s role, this post is intended to give you some idea of the place. I apologize that it’s more a travelogue than about watches, but you’ll see my point at the end of Part 3b.

Early human presence on Floreana resulted in habitant destruction, and feral animals, especially goats and now cats, have harmed the vegetation. The Darwin Foundation successfully eradicated the goats and is trying to get community awareness programs started for the cats. There are now protected wildlife areas, and also a no-fishing zone established. Locally extinct species –like the Floreana mockingbird and giant tortoises—are now being reintroduced.

Getting there is almost a 50 mile trip south of the main island, Santa Cruz. At first we started with some small signs of civilization:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/1N.jpg)=

And the boat really zoomed away:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/6N.jpg)

Soon there was almost nothing but water,
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/7N.jpg)

I thoroughly enjoyed the ride:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/8N.jpg)

And we did see a few islands, and even a Boobie:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/10N.jpg)

[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/11N.jpg)

And then we found Floreana Island:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/13N.jpg)

Almost nothing was there
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/12N.jpg)

[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/19N.jpg)

The natives didn’t look friendly:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/14N.jpg)

Actually some clowned for us:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/18N.jpg)

[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/20N.jpg)

continued in Part 3b, below...

Galapagos Report (continued): Part 3b -Floreana Island

continued from Part 3a (above)

After spending time on the dock,in Floreana we noticed the strong military presence --a local Naval Station:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/17N.jpg)

Candidly, the Coast Guard didn’t give me any comfort:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/16N.jpg)

And finally the local bus arrived:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/22N.jpg)

This bus made a trip up the mountain to a National Park at the peak, called Asilo de la Paz. The road was kind of rough:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/21N.jpg)

And the landscape was bleak:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/27N.jpg)

But then we reached the park, and hiked up the mountain and back:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/23N.jpg)

The settlers used to live almost in caves, with just a little running Spring water. We explored those and also in the forest saw some of our friends:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/24N.jpg)

[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/25N.jpg)
The tortoises were living in the wild, with only logs keeping them in a preserved area.

And as we left another friend said good-bye:
[](www.iwcforum.com/Advertisements/Galapagos/Floreana/28N.jpg)

In one sense this wasn’t the Galapagos I anticipated. There weren’t dozens of colorful birds that weren’t afraid of humans, nor many truly unique species. There weren’t lush tropical landscapes and the adventurous water landings I recall from my visit many years ago. It wasn’t colorful nor like a tropical holiday.

And then I realized I had just done something incredibly special. I visited a truly remote island that was, in a sense, a scientific laboratory. An island far away from other islands and from continents. An island that was not pretty but was very special –and one that had been harmed by civilization –by humans and by invasive species. And an island which is being restored, painstakingly, back close to its natural state by the Charles Darwin Foundation.

This, truly, is great work. It is not “cover photo” stuff and it goes without much publicity. But it is preserving what may be among the most unique places on earth. It is doing so with education and with collaboration. It involves understanding and preserving a complex ecosystem. And I was uniquely fortunate to see this first hand.

I’ve got to give IWC credit here –its Francs are being put to excellent use.

Thanks so much. Great photos and report. nt

Congratulations IWC...

IWC should be proud of its involvement in this non-glamourous endeavour. Well done.

As you stated, "a scientific laboratory"...

There are very few unspoiled places left on the planet. I am sure it was a privilege to visit. Kudos to IWC for supporting it.

It was rare opportunity...

to visit one of the truly unique destinations in the world. Thank you for bringing it back to us, Michael! IWC receives well-deserved recognition for their support of conservation endeavors such as the work being done in the Galapagos.

Best regards,
Jim

Thank you for the report

It is good to see the feral species being removed from the island to allow the natural species to proliferate.

Quite frankly the only awareness campaign that will be successful with cats is there complete removal and or destruction. I've shot a feral cat that weighed 12.7 kilograms (that is 28 pounds) and just think how much native wildlife a cat that size eats every day.

Cheers from the cellar

indeed, it wasn't lost on me...

Hi Jim,

When we first were at Floreana I was thinking "what am I doing here? Why aren't I on Isabella?". Upon thinking about it, I realized that I was having a unique opportunity --to see a native island in its native state. It may not have been pretty, but it is was incredible --something I most likely will never see again. And more than unique --it was something important.

Regards,
Michael

about the feral animals

Hi cellar,

The Darwin Foundation took interestiing approaches here.

For feral goats, they used a "Judas Goat" --they took a young female and injected her with phénomènes. The males searched her out, and then helicopter sharpshooters eradicated the males. Pretty soon, there were no more males and eventually no more feral goats. The Judas Goat wasn't shot but shunned by other goats, and lived a solitary existence.

The cats are different, because many are pets. When we had lunch on Floreana, the family at the restaurant had Siamese cats as pets. The Foundation's idea is to educate the population, and to ultimately create a zero-cat population through persuasion. It's a gentle and collegial approach.

Regards,
Michael

Not typical picture postcard stuff at all

but nonetheless a wonderful opportunity to visit a special place. Thanks for all of the reporting Michael- I know that it was tough, but someone has to do this sort of thing :-)

Thank you Michael>

Very interesting, your pictures and reports are quite opposite to the mental image I have of the Galapagos (which is somewhat "romantic", as I dare say is the case with many people). The Galapagos seem so remote and exotic from this side of the globe. I had not imagined that some areas would be so baron and arid.
I like that IWC are doing some unsung and "un-sexy" work there, it fits very well with the ethic of the company.

Ross

not in this part of the report, but next...

True, this was a arrid and desolate place. But the surrounding waters also made a very nice place for testing the new Aquatimers.

I am hoping to receive some underwater shots and movies, and will post about that subsequently.

Never expected to see such pictures

thank you Michael and well done to IWC

Argiris

Thanks very much Michael >

It's good to see that IWC is sponsoring this project.

Kind regards,

Clemens

Vibrant colors and excitement!!

Really great report and pictures. Thanks MF

Two more great sets of photos. Thanks again for

taking us along.

Great posts, Michael. thanks.