This small sparsely inhabited archipelago off the coast of Ecuador is one of the best showcases of evolution, according to UNESCO, because this place has some of the most unique wild animals on the planet. More than 1,000 species of wildlife found nowhere else in the world, from the famous giant tortoises to the tiny finches that inspired the theory of evolution of naturalist Charles Darwin who visited this island chain -and many other places- during the well-known “voyage of the Beagle” in 1835.
As the Galapagos Islands are relatively isolated from the continent of South America and thus practically intact, it allows a unique ecosystem, landscape, and food chain that have evolved over thousands of years to be experienced.
Thanks to this isolation, its fauna has been able to evolve very differently from animals anywhere else in the world due to the lack of major predators and a fairly reliable ecosystem (a perfect example is the gigantism found in turtles).
These animals are absolutely unique, incredible, framed in an equally spectacular landscape. And they are fabulous on so many levels. The climate is very favorable for being so close to the equator, which is why the ocean and the beaches and its flora and fauna make this destination a unique setting. In addition, these animals have not developed the fear of being hunted that animals have in other areas of the planet. It is also an extremely unspoiled place: no other place on Earth is free of introduced and invasive species.
Due to its remote location, the Galapagos Islands, also known as the Colon Archipelago, remained intact for millions of years before discovery by a human. They are such a fascinating melting pot of scientifically significant species that it was named the first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
Today we will take a walk through its fascinating species along with scientific curiosities about the wildlife in general of this wonderful place that is located about 1,000 kilometers away from the coasts of Ecuador.
