2020 Impact report 2020 - Galapagos Conservation Trust

© Giant Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme
THE GIANT TORTOISE
MOVEMENT ECOLOGY
PROGRAMME
is studying these iconic species’ ancient
migration routes and early years’ movements
to inform conservation strategies.
• 21 hatchlings tagged with radio transmitters.
• Baseline health samples have now been
collected from 600 individual tortoises.
• A visit to Alcedo volcano, Isabela went ahead
in December 2020 - 8 out of 11 tagged
tortoises on the volcano were found, including
Spikey, a female tortoise that had not been
seen since 2016.
Over the last three months, no
field conservation activities were
conducted in Galapagos. We could
not conduct any education/outreach
activities either. However, this
break allowed us to regroup and
reconsider some of our priorities
and methodologies. I had time to
focus on data and analyses. It was
a very valuable time to re-evaluate
our work and improve some methods
for future activities.
– Dr Ainoa Nieto, Wildlife Veterinarian
and Researcher at the Charles Darwin
Foundation, and researcher for the
Giant Tortoise Movement Ecology
Programme. July 2020
© Joshua Vela Foncesca
• 100 children aged 6-11 took part
in tortoise outreach activities to
learn more about Galapagos
THE LITTLE VERMILION
FLYCATCHER PROJECT
OUR LAND BIRDS OF
GALAPAGOS PROGRAMME
includes work to conserve the Critically
Endangered mangrove finch, and the little
vermilion flycatcher which was once common
but is now classed as Vulnerable.
The Mangrove Finch Project continues its work
to protect the Islands’ most endangered bird
species, driven to the brink of extinction by
parasitic larvae of the invasive fly, Philornis
downsi, which suck the blood of nestlings.
• Population estimates remain at around
100 individuals.
was launched in 2019. This brightly coloured endemic
songbird is declining at an alarming rate, threatened
by invasive species and habitat degradation.
• Most successful breeding season yet for the
little vermilion flycatcher as 6 chicks successfully
fledged their nests on Santa Cruz, where it is estimated
that there are no more than 40 breeding pairs.
• By October, all 6 project areas had been cleared of
invasive blackberry plants and were showing
regeneration of native vegetation, especially Scalesia trees.
• After placing rat bait stations in the 6 plots in October
2019, only 9% of nests failed due to predation in
comparison to 22% of nests outside of the controlled
plots in the 2020 breeding season.
• There was a 40% increase in the number of
breeding pairs recorded to 14 from 10 in 2019.
• It is unknown whether any nests were successful
in 2020 breeding season or if any chicks fledged
as the team had to leave the field 5 weeks
early due to the lockdown in Galapagos.
Our Partners Delivering Projects in 2020
Endangered Sharks of Galapagos – Galapagos Whale Shark Project,
MigraMar, Universidad de San Francisco de Quito (Galapagos Science Center)
Giant Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme – Charles Darwin Foundation,
Ecology Project International, Galapagos National Park Directorate
Mangrove Finch Project – Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos National Park Directorate
Saving the Little Vermilion Flycatcher - Charles Darwin Foundation,
Galapagos National Park Directorate, University of Vienna
Due to the pandemic, we had
to unexpectedly leave the field
in the middle of mangrove
finch breeding season,
meaning we were unable to
protect this year’s fledglings
from Philornis downsi.
– Francesca Cunninghame,
Mangrove Finch Project Leader
© Charles Darwin Foundation
Overall, I consider invasive species to
be the biggest threat for the wildlife in
Galapagos. While we work hard to find
solutions to reduce the impact of invasive
species already present, a big focus
should be placed on reducing new arrivals.
– Birgit Fessl, Coordinator of the
Galapagos Land Bird Conservation
Plan at the Charles Darwin Foundation
© Charles Darwin Foundation
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