Puerto Villamil remains a small and relatively sleepy village, but the balance between conservation and human exploitation of the island's resources represents one of the most significant challenges to Isabela's biodiversity. Although prohibited since 1933, the consumption of tortoise meat is still an ongoing problem on Isabela. 190 giant tortoises were killed throughout the Galapagos between 1995 and 2004, the majority of which resided on Isabela. These statistics have prompted a need to encourage local people from a young age about the benefits of conservation.

Human settlement of Puerto Villamil has brought with it an invasion of goats, cats and dogs. When homeless animals go feral, they carry with them diseases which pose a tremendous threat to much of Isablea's treasured wildlife. Not only that, but they are also responsible predating the eggs of local wildlife. The idyllic site of Punta Moreno has even seen attacks by dogs on sealions and marine iguanas.

Two species of Isabela's bird population have recently brought cause for concern. The flamingos, which are most commonly seen wading in the brackish ponds, have steadily shown a decline in their population. The most likely cause has been the flooding of nesting sites brought about by recent El Niño and tsunami events. Unfortunately, such events are likely to increase with the continuing effects of climate change.

Mangrove finch populations have also been dwindling over recent years. There are an estimated 100 individuals left on Isabela, divided between two mangrove forests. The main threats to the finches are introduced brown and black rats, smooth-billed anis, fire ants and parasitic flies. Depending on how much more their population deteriorates, it may be necessary to bring all remaining mangrove finches into captivity.

Isabela's Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre

Isabela is the only Galapagos island where several species of tortoise can be seen together. The distance between the volcanoes and the diversity in environment and habitat has been fundamental in enabling the tortoises to evolve. A short 20 minute from Puerto Villamil is the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre. The centre provides opportunities to see tortoises at all different stages of their development, from eggs to small hatchlings; and juveniles to sub adults. The centre works to protect and increase the population of the five subspecies of giant tortoise that reside on the island, with the ultimate aim of releasing them back into their natural habitats. We can often find reintroduced tortoises on our land based programmes on Isabela.

One of the most important functions the Breeding Centre serves is to protect newborn tortoises from introduced fire ants. Tortoises are defenceless against these ants which can kills tortoises younger than about two years old. Fire ants are widespread throughout the Galapagos and it only on Wolf Island where they have so far been painstakingly eradicated. The chances of achieving this on Isabela seem pretty much impossible.

Another function of the Centre is for rehabilitation of tortoises threatened by volcanic eruptions and forest fires.

Photographs kindly provided by Ralph Pannell

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