Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are life-saving devices that deliver an electric shock to restart the…
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Articles from March 2025
In ‘KAUANI,’ Indigenous Mexican Flora Flourishes in Glowing Lanterns
In Nahuatl, an Aztec language indigenous to Mesoamerica still spoken by more than a million people throughout Mexico, kauani means “to flourish.” Designers Inés Quezada and Inés Llasera, co-founders of Tornasol Studio, conceived of a series of luminaires inspired by native flora in celebration of the region’s rich botanic diversity.
The ongoing series, KAUANI, emulates details of endemic species, drawing on textures found on cacti, geometric agaves, and the rhythmic patterns of corn. The duo also find inspiration in the unique seeds of mamey and guanabana fruits or the pigmentation of cacao and chili peppers.
“Cacti symbolize resilience,” Quezada and Llasera say in a statement, sharing how the plants’ adaptations to extreme environments mean they can endure long droughts and high temperatures. The pair adds:
For instance, their spines not only serve as a defense mechanism but also condense water and create a protective layer. Their pale pigmentation, resulting from waxes that insulate their tissues and their water-retention capabilities grant them unique volumetric forms. Unlike most plants, cacti perform photosynthesis at night, closing their stomata during the day to conserve water and nutrients. It is in darkness that they truly “breathe.”
Merging natural forms of fruit and botanicals with textiles, the lanterns incorporate knitted skins with delicate spikes, ruffles, or tentacles that tread the line between representation and abstraction. Melon-like orbs and oblong shapes reminiscent of seed pods are suspended from the ceiling or propped up on surfaces with spindly feet.
If you’re in Mexico City, you can see KAUANI in Noches Árides through May 15 at AGO Projects. Explore more on the designers’ website, and follow updates on Instagram.
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14 Smart Ways to Repurpose Food Packaging
Before you toss an empty Froot Loops box, butter tub, or soda bottle into the…
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Natural Habitat Adventures Supports Community-Based Conservation in the Serengeti
The Serengeti. Its name alone conjures images of sweeping savannas, thundering herds of wildebeest in chaotic motion, and the golden glow of the East African sunset.
The Serengeti is both an administrative district and a national park in Tanzania, but when most people use the term, we refer to the entire Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, historically a haven for wildlife and home to communities with deep-rooted connections to the land.
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But both wildlife and local communities face mounting threats across the Serengeti. Expanding populations and development are putting enormous strain on natural resources, and climate change is making water scarce.
As a result, Nat Hab is proud to partner with and support Friends of Serengeti, a non-profit membership organization that facilitates traveler support of conservation, education and other benefits to people living within and around protected natural areas of the Serengeti.
This year, Nat Hab Philanthropy contributed to an ecoagriculture program spearheaded by a local Maasai leader. The program is designed to help secure the future of both people and wildlife in the Serengeti.
Read on for more about the challenges facing the Serengeti and the ecoagriculture pilot program Nat Hab Philanthropy supported through Friends of Serengeti.
The Serengeti Ecosystem: Natural Wonder at Risk
Spanning approximately 12,000 square miles (30,000 km²), the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem includes the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. It is one of the most famous and biologically diverse regions on the planet, supporting over 1.5 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebra and hundreds of thousands of antelope during the Great Migration.
Serengeti means “endless plains” in the Maasai language. As vast as this landscape may sound, the Serengeti is increasingly a shrinking island in a sea of people. And it’s not just overtourism and development causing strain— population growth in Tanzania is one of the highest in the world, and growth rates around the Serengeti are among the highest in Tanzania.
Tanzania’s population will more than double by mid-century, from 69 million people now to 93 million in 2035 to 130 million in 2050. A team of scientists from seven countries studied data from 40 years and found,
“The activities of people have caused extreme changes to the habitat. It has significantly reduced the amount of grass and, because of farms, settlements and fences, the landscape has become fragmented – this means animals can’t move freely to find resources or mate.” – Joseph Ogutu
This exponential growth puts tremendous pressure on land, wildlife and resources.
Elephant sanctuary in Kenya © Nat Hab Staff Megan Bryant
Multifaceted Threats Facing the Serengeti
The Serengeti is facing an array of interwoven challenges driven by human expansion, climate change and environmental degradation. These threats are not distant concerns—they’re unfolding now, altering the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
- Habitat Fragmentation: Farms, settlements and fencing are fragmenting the landscape, preventing wildlife from migrating freely. This affects mating patterns and access to vital grazing lands.
- Overgrazing and Land Degradation: Increasing livestock numbers contribute to soil erosion and diminishing resources for native herbivores. Growing herds of livestock not only threaten water sources for wildlife but have also led to increased crepuscular activity by large herbivores, including wildebeest. Species are reducing their daytime activity and becoming more active at night.
- Water Scarcity: Deforestation and unsustainable agriculture are diminishing water catchments, threatening both wildlife and pastoralist communities. Water is becoming harder to find, and herders must go farther to find it, often encroaching on agricultural land and protected areas.
- Climate Change: Droughts, once occurring every five to six years, are now more frequent—every two to three years. Longer, more frequent droughts and heavy water usage for crop irrigation threaten water supplies both from rivers and free-standing water, the ability of grasslands to support large herds of herbivores, and the normal seasonal movements of animals.
As a result, wildlife is being squeezed into the core of the Serengeti, increasing vulnerability to droughts and decreasing soil carbon storage and nitrogen fixation rates.
Additional challenges include:
- Invasive, ornamental plants displace native species and affect the nutrition of wildlife.
- Roads and other human development fragment the ecosystem.
- Poaching has changed from individuals supplementing the family diet to organized initiatives, a byproduct of legalized bushmeat markets.
- Cultural Change: Maasai cultural identity and traditional ways of life are challenged by changes in land use, climate and restrictions on grazing. It’s a radical change from pastoralism to agriculture.
Michael Santeto of the Pastoral Development Network in Kenya explains: “Reducing herds is a reality pastoralists have to grapple with. Because of the bulging population, space is shrinking, and adaptive strategies have to be sought.”
Community-Driven Conservation in Action
It’s clear the situation in the Serengeti requires transformation. An Ngorongoro District Commissioner said, “The situation is at a tipping point, stakeholders need to stretch their minds to the limit to come up with solutions.”
But how do we address the complex array of interlocking challenges simultaneously?
One solution to simultaneously address food security, land use, conservation and cultural identity originates with one Maasai man and engages cooperative groups of Maasai women in sustainable economic development.
Meyasi Meshilieck, a Maasai with a science education degree and years of experience as a teacher and department head, is Director of the Serengeti Preservation Foundation. At his Saravu Farm outside Arusha he has developed and piloted a holistic ecoagricultural program to promote human welfare and biodiversity through improved dairy cows, land management and women’s empowerment.
What is ecoagriculture?
“Ecoagriculture is an approach to managing landscapes specifically to meet three goals simultaneously and sustainably: conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services, provide agricultural products, and support viable livelihoods for local people.”
The program piloted at Saravu Farm has four cornerstones:
- Women’s Empowerment/Population
- Community/Family Welfare
- Climate Change Mitigation
- Wildlife Habitat Conservation
Empowering Maasai Women Through Sustainable Dairy Farming
In 2023, 30 women participated in the initial training, learning sustainable grazing techniques and how to care for improved cattle breeds. New workshops will divide women into cooperatives of 20 women who will receive hybrid cows. Milk production will give them income to grow and make them eligible for micro-loans.
Key outcomes of the program include:
- Improve family nutrition, health, and income:
High-yield cattle breeds reduce the need for large herds, increasing milk production while alleviating pressure on the land. Sales from excess production will provide income to purchase other food supplies and send children to school. - Help protect the Serengeti and surrounding ecosystems:
Reducing livestock density, reversing land degradation and moderating the growth of the human population are key to sustainable conservation. Conservation is the key to generating income from tourism, which provides more sustainable income and jobs for the country. - Empower Maasai Women:
Women are trained in dairy farming and form cooperatives that generate income, promote education and qualify for micro-loans. Empowering women is key to reducing poverty and population growth and improving family and community well-being. - Mitigate climate impacts on water, land and food security:
The program allows families to reduce herd size and pressure on the ecosystem. Whether it is zero grazing or a hybrid system with some herding, the amount of land, time, and water needed can be reduced.
The aim now is to expand rapidly into as many communities and areas as possible. This will involve the purchase and donation of new breeds of cattle and expanded training. The full rollout will involve ongoing training, monitoring, and evaluation, veterinary services and marketing.
This pilot program can also serve as a model for other protected areas in Tanzania where similar threats are facing growing numbers of people and livestock. Tanzania has one of the highest cattle populations in Africa but lacks the training and facilities to create a sustainable value chain of milk and meat production.
Photographed by Nat Hab Guest © Kim Nelson
Supporting Friends of Serengeti through Conservation Travel
Friends of Serengeti partners with sustainable tourism companies to preserve the Serengeti ecosystem and benefit the wildlife and people who live within and around its protected areas.
Members involve travelers by giving them information on issues and asking for voluntary donations when paying for their trips. It works with partner organizations on the ground to identify needs and carry out projects. It is modeled after the successful International Galapagos Tour Operators Association.
At Nat Hab, our commitment to conservation and sustainable development inspires our leadership role in boosting grassroots efforts in places our guests have come to know and love. We are in a privileged position to witness the marvels of this ecosystem from our private safari camps across the Mara and Serengeti. Through Nat Hab Philanthropy, we support local grassroots efforts worldwide.
In the past, Nat Hab’s financial contributions have supported Friends of Serengeti community conservation initiatives such as:
- The Serengeti Teachers Environmental Program (STEP). STEP provides Tanzanian primary and secondary science teachers with training on environmental issues and wildlife protection. The program also creates conservation-focused curricula and encourages students to help with outreach by planting trees and leading community clean-ups.
- Women’s Empowerment. This program prioritizes women’s education, health and economic welfare by providing them with opportunities to generate income and sustain wealth through activities such as beekeeping and honey sales.
- Radio Programming. In conjunction with a UNESCO-sponsored Maasai radio station, this program broadcasts educational messages to the entire region of Musoma, Maasai Mara, Loliondo area and some parts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and gives communities a platform to exchange conservation ideas in their native languages of Swahili and Maa.
Nat Hab Philanthropy’s contribution in 2024 reflects its unwavering commitment to Friends of Serengeti and the belief that sustainable tourism can secure a future for both people and wildlife.
Photographed by Nat Hab Expedition Leader © Richard de Gouveia
Supporting Sustainable Travel in the Serengeti
The Serengeti stands at a crossroads. With Tanzania’s population surging and environmental pressures mounting, bold solutions are needed to safeguard this iconic landscape. Programs like Meyasi Meshilieck’s ecoagriculture initiative provide a beacon of hope, demonstrating that local knowledge and empowerment can—and should—drive sustainable change.
As travelers, conservationists and global citizens, we all have a role to play. Through Nat Hab Philanthropy and Friends of Serengeti, travelers have the opportunity to make a difference. Every journey we take to the Serengeti region is a step toward preserving this extraordinary ecosystem for generations to come.
Join us in supporting grassroots initiatives that make a real difference—for the land, the wildlife and the people who call the Serengeti home.
Group photo including a Maasai Tribe member, a Nat Hab Expedition Leader and local guides. Nat Hab’s Mara East Camp—Mara Conservancy, Maasai Mara National Reserve. Photographed by Nat Hab Staff © Kendra Olson
The post Natural Habitat Adventures Supports Community-Based Conservation in the Serengeti first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.
Recycling Mystery: How To Keep Hard Hats Out Of Landfills
Hard hats protect workers in construction, manufacturing, and other hazardous environments. But like all safety…
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How Many Butts? Estimating Your Cigarette Waste Cleanup Impact
Have you ever wondered just how many cigarette butts you and your fellow cleanup volunteers…
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Rui Sasaki Encases Spectral Flowers in Intimate Glass Assemblages
“What is essential is invisible to the eye,” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote in his 1943 novella The Little Prince, a sentiment that drives Rui Sasaki’s work. From what the artist (previously) describes as a “mysterious and ambiguous material,” botanicals appear to float in frozen cubes of water.
Sasaki employs glass to document and preserve the nature of the present. Works like “Subtle Intimacy” respond to places and experiences in which she feels an affinity with her surroundings. “It is vital for me to connect who I am and where I am, especially when I am in unfamiliar spaces,” the artist tells Colossal. She likens intimacy to nostalgia, exploring the depth of feeling associated with memories, comfort, and security.
Sasaki traces her fascination with the medium to childhood, specifically to its visual similarities to the surfaces of ponds or lakes. “I was always wondering how I could make something out of water,” she says. “When I saw molten glass at a glassblowing studio during a summer family trip in Okinawa, I fell in love with it.”
Sasaki moved to the U.S. from Japan in 2007, then returned to Japan nearly five years later, and she began incorporating plants into her work as response to reverse culture shock—a means to “recover my senses from my loss of intimacy and home in my mother country,” she says.
Enchanted by how plants can express experiences of her surroundings, Sasaki portrays individual botanicals in sculptures ranging in size from a few feet wide to room-size installations. She says:
Collecting plants is the most important aspect of the work. I use all my five senses in gathering plants. That helps me to recall my past memories, especially in my childhood, and to connect my feelings of intimacy towards my country, Japan.
Sasaki places collected specimens between two sheets of glass and fires the piece in a kiln. The plant turns to white ash, leaving the impression of petals, leaves, and veins. Air bubbles that naturally emerge in the heat are also preserved in what the artist likens to a time capsule. The original form of the plant no longer exists but its impression endures.
Dualities like presence and absence, fragility and strength, and transparency and opacity merge with Sasaki’s interest in “befriending” glass while reveling in the knowledge that she will never fully comprehend everything about it.
If you’re in Denmark, you can see Sasaki’s sculptures at Glas from March 22 to September 28 in Ebeltoft. Her work will also be on view later this year at the Aichi Triennale 2025. Explore more on the artist’s website, and follow Instagram for updates.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Rui Sasaki Encases Spectral Flowers in Intimate Glass Assemblages appeared first on Colossal.
Empowering Women Through Exploring the Wild Together
Equal rights. Equal opportunities. Equal power.
Join Nat Hab on March 8, 2025, to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
This year’s theme “calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.”
Women and girls suffer disproportionately from the impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change. Studies show that gender inequality exacerbates these vulnerabilities and threatens their livelihoods, health, safety and security.
Empowering women’s participation in conservation uplifts communities and transforms lives.
Nat Hab Guests on a Women’s Journey in Churchill, Manitoba. Photographed by Nat Hab Expedition Leader © Giulia Ciampini.
Trailblazers of the Travel Industry
Did you know the average U.S. traveler is a 47-year-old woman? Women have an outsize influence in the travel industry: They represent 57.1% of all travelers in the United States, make nearly 85% of all travel decisions and make up the lion’s share of the global tourism workforce at 54%.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the gender wage gap is lower in tourism, and the proportion of women in leadership roles is higher than in other industries. UNWTO and UN Women assert that keeping women’s empowerment at the ‘Center Stage’ of sustainable tourism development will help them achieve their ambitious goal for global gender equality by 2030.
Tourism enhances cultural appreciation, generates new economic opportunities, and encourages environmental stewardship across local communities. Increasingly, women are breaking gender barriers by taking on roles traditionally held by men, such as tour guides and naturalists.
Nat Hab Expedition Leader Payal Mehta. Photographed by Nat Hab Staff © Dana Cama.
Here are a few ways women are driving meaningful change on a global level:
- Women’s Entrepreneurship Fuels Sustainable Development: Women’s participation in economic activities creates a ripple effect that benefits families and fosters more sustainable and resilient communities. They improve literacy, education and public health while also inspiring future generations of girls and women in ways that male entrepreneurs typically do not. Additionally, female business owners reinvest up to 90% of their earnings into their families and communities, compared to 30-40% reinvested by men.
- Women in Conservation Leadership Roles: A review of 17 studies found that women’s involvement in conservation and natural resource management led to more sustainable extraction policies, increased compliance, enhanced transparency and accountability, and improved conflict resolution. The research indicates women are more likely to prioritize collective well-being over individual gain, resulting in decisions that promote the public good, ensure fair wages and benefits, and foster ethical and honest practices.
Read “5 Reasons to Support Women in Conservation” by Rebecca Self to learn more.
Nat Hab’s Great Gray Whales of Baja all-woman guide and field team. Photographed by Nat Hab Staff © Dana Cama.
At Nat Hab, we know that empowered women are powerful agents of change for people and the planet. Toward that end, we launched Women’s Journeys, an adventure series exclusively for women travelers.
A Letter from Nat Hab’s President, Heidi Anderson
As a lover of nature, you know wilderness helps us connect with our most authentic selves. Our Women’s Journeys bring together like-minded travelers for inspiring adventures, forging deep connections in the wild.
As Nat Hab’s new president, I’m proud of these transformative experiences. I’ve witnessed their magic firsthand—like sharing the northern lights with a group of incredible women in Churchill, Manitoba.
Led by expert women Expedition Leaders, these journeys combine a love for nature with the thrill of discovery. Encounter polar bears in the Canadian Arctic, witness brown bear mothers nursing their cubs in Alaska, hear the hum of monarch butterfly wings in Mexico, or search for the Big Five on safari in South Africa.
But these trips are about more than wildlife—they foster meaningful connections. Whether you travel solo or with loved ones, you’ll find camaraderie and a chance to recharge among supportive women, free from daily burdens.
We also honor pioneering women in conservation, learning from researchers, explorers, and community leaders shaping our understanding of the wild. We celebrate the resilience of female animals, from elephant matriarchs to devoted beluga mothers.
Nat Hab’s founder, Ben Bressler, credits his mother, Rosalind “Rozie” Bressler, for inspiring his journey. Her pioneering spirit lives on in these empowering adventures, uniting women who seek to make a lasting impact on our planet.
Let’s continue this journey together.
With gratitude,
Women’s Journeys
Nat Hab launched Women’s Journeys in 2023, to immediate success. With overwhelming demand to offer more, we’ve increased our capacity for women-only trips by 75% in the last year alone and plan to double that again by 2025.
In intimate travel groups averaging just nine guests, our accomplished women Expedition Leaders—including Ph.D. scientists, wildlife biologists and conservationists—cultivate connections among women of all ages and life contexts. They offer deep insight into the destination’s wildlife and cultural history and introduce guests to the women community members who positively shape the environment.
“Our women-only departures build an immediate and meaningful community while empowering women to reconnect with their inner ‘wild,’” says Renata Haas, Nat Hab’s Head of Adventures, North America. “The impact of bringing women together to intimately witness the natural world spurs a ripple effect for active discourse and change.”
Nat Hab Guests at Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba. Photographed by Nat Hab Staff © Megan Brief
Empowering Stories About Women in Conservation Travel
Women’s Journeys champions women and their stories. Get inspired by watching this curated collection of Nat Hab films!
Women’s Journeys: Empowering Adventures in Nature
Growing in the Galapagos: A Nat Hab Guide Story
When Josy Cardoso was a child, her single mother moved her family to the Galapagos to help build a better life for her two young daughters. Josy says her mother’s brave decision was “the best thing that could ever happen to us.”
When asked what International Women’s Day means to her, Josy says: “It means that women are finally being recognized as an important part of the pyramid, needed to make this world work. We respect that we all need to be part of the team in order to have a successful life, career and family—and women are the keystone in all this.” Watch to see how Josy’s unique upbringing led her to pursue an exciting career as a professional Expedition Leader.
Churchill’s Awesome Aurora: A Nat Hab Guide Story
Discover the winter wonders of the aurora borealis with Canadian Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson, who loves guiding nature travelers around the subarctic town of Churchill, Manitoba, to witness the awe-inspiring nighttime spectacle of the northern lights.
Finding Home in Alaska: A Nat Hab Guide Story
Caprice Stoner has managed Nat Hab’s Lake Clark Alaska Bear Camp since 2006. Find out what keeps this Tennessee native—and grandmother of five—coming back year after year to the Alaska wild and our guests.
Walking with Gorillas: A Rwandan Guide Story
Rwandan ranger Jolie Mukiza has been leading nature travelers to view endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park since 2012. One of three female guides currently leading gorilla treks in the park, Jolie hikes this mountainous area five days a week during the high season, delighting her guests with her enthusiasm, expertise, and in-depth knowledge of the local terrain and wildlife.
Exploring East Greenland: A Nat Hab Traveler Story
In this personal encounter shared with firsthand footage, Nat Hab guest Kristin Hansen shares her experience visiting East Greenland and the meaningfulness of traveling here with her mother.
Wild Women of Alaska: Daily Dose of Nature Webinar
The Last Frontier’s siren song has often been answered by men, but some of Alaska’s boldest and most adventurous pioneers were women. Their legacy has given rise to modern women leaders charged with managing the state’s natural resources and wildlife. Expedition Leader Samantha Strauss celebrates women who shaped Alaska by sharing stories sure to inspire contemporary women to adventure north.
Inside Our Women’s Journeys: Daily Dose of Nature Webinar
Our guests on these popular adventures often tell us they feel more comfortable in an all-women setting, especially when it comes to trying new things—from snowshoeing to kayaking with belugas to camping in brown bear territory. Expedition Leaders Judy Wilson and Jessica Morgan discuss our empowering Women’s Journeys and the positive impact they have on our travelers.
Celebrate Women’s Day by Sharing These Inspiring Stories:
- 5 Health Benefits of Women’s Adventure Travel
- Wild About Pride: The Nature of Belonging
- Get to Know the Intrepid Women Who Inspired Our Expedition Camps
- Ride 4 a Woman Empowers the Women of Bwindi, Uganda
- Meet the Pioneering Women Changing the Face of the African Safari Industry
- Women in Conservation: 5 Primatologists You Should Know
- Meet the All-Women Volunteer Firefighters Making a Big Difference in Borneo
My mom and I on a Women’s Journey at Nat Hab’s Alaska Bear Camp! © Megan Brief
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Galapagos Species That Are Back from the Brink
Over the last century, Earth’s wild places have seen startling declines in biodiversity. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), around one million species are currently at risk of extinction The main cause? Human activity. Habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, over-consumption, human-wildlife conflict and pollution are major causes of this decline. Invasive species also pose threats to species across the globe.
The Galapagos Islands: An Ecological Treasure
The Galapagos Islands are a biodiversity hotspot that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in 1835. The Galapagos is made up of 19 volcanic islands that vary drastically in landscapes, ranging from jagged, jet-black lava fields on Santiago Island to powdery-soft beaches on Mosquera Islet. The islands represent a living museum and showcase of evolution that continues to enchant all of us. About 80% of land birds, 97% of reptiles and land mammals, and more than 30% of plants in the Galapagos exist nowhere else in the world.
The thousands of endemic plant and animal species in the Galapagos Islands make them an ecological treasure. The islands are six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador, and their isolation and terrain mean that many species have not changed much since prehistoric times. The convergence of four ocean currents and the isolation of these islands create a variety of ecosystems that host unique biodiversity. Many species aren’t able to migrate or adapt in response to changing climatic conditions or invasive species, making them particularly vulnerable.
© Megan Brief
Species loss in the Galapagos has been caused largely by global climate change, invasive species, illegal fishing and the ecosystem-changing impacts of human activity. Currently, there are 150 species listed as endangered or critically endangered. Today’s giant tortoise populations are just 10% of their historical numbers and occupy only 35% of available habitat. Giant tortoises are the architects of the healthy terrestrial ecosystems in the Galapagos. Their grazing and seed dispersal make them important to the islands’ overall biodiversity.
Thankfully, new initiatives in the Galapagos and across Latin America’s Pacific archipelagos and islands are seeking to rediscover and reintroduce lost species. The “Re:wild: The Search for Lost Species” initiative is led by scientists looking for plants, animals and fungi that have been lost to science for at least 10 years.
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Fernandina Giant Tortoise Found After 113 Years of ‘Extinction’
© Richard De Gouveia
One of the island’s most famous species, the giant tortoise, arrived in Galapagos from mainland South America 2 to 3 million years ago. Since then, 14 different species of giant tortoise have evolved, all varying in morphology and distribution across the islands. Twelve species are living; however, they remain threatened. One species, Chelonoidis nigra abingdoni, nicknamed Lonesome George, went extinct in 2012. After Lonesome George was found on Pinta Island, located in the north of the Galapagos archipelago in 1972, he became a symbol of the plight of endangered species.
The Fernandina giant tortoise, Chelonoidis phantasticus, was last seen in 1906. Since then, it was believed that the species had gone extinct. That was until February 17, 2019, when rangers from Galapagos National Park and scientists from the Galapagos Conservancy’s Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative found an adult female, estimated to be more than 100 years old, on the island of Fernandina. The team believes there might be more, but another expedition will be needed to confirm. Fernandina is the youngest and most volcanically active of the Galapagos Islands, and this rugged environment is believed to be responsible for the tortoise’s decline.
© Richard De Gouveia
Rediscovering a species previously thought to be lost is a challenging endeavor that requires local interviews, habitat exploration expeditions and the collection of eDNA. Scientists believe that the female Fernandina giant tortoise found can become an icon of hope, and they are looking for a suitable mate for her to continue the lineage of this once-lost species.
Re-wilding efforts have successfully prevented the extinction of the Pinzón giant tortoise (Chelonoidis duncanensis) and the Española giant tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis). In the last 60 years, more than 9,000 tortoises have been reared in captivity and released to the wild. Scientists also rely on removing invasive species that threaten habitat and reproduction to successfully make these transitions back into the wild.
Galapagos Land Iguana Returns to Santiago Island
© Megan Brief
Invasive species have caused ecosystem-wide destruction across various islands. One victim of invasive species was the Galapagos land iguana that disappeared from Santiago Island in the 1830s. The last person to see the species in the wild on Santiago was the celebrated naturalist Charles Darwin in 1835. The iguana exists in the wild across other islands. Still, it was wiped out on Santiago due to invasives such as feral pigs, cats, goats and donkeys that monopolized essential food sources and preyed upon their eggs and young. These species were introduced across the archipelago by whalers and other mariners.
Like the giant tortoise, the Galapagos land iguana is an important seed disperser and ecosystem engineer. Therefore, reintroducing these herbivores will help stabilize the ecological health of Santiago Island. In 1997, scientists started Project Isabela to remove large, introduced mammals from Santiago Island, Isabela Island and Pinta island. In 2006, the project reported that Santiago was officially free of all large, introduced mammal—goats, pigs and donkeys. This helped set the stage for the eventual reintroduction of the Galapagos land iguana to Santiago Island.
In 2018, Galapagos National Park Directorate and international nonprofit Island Conservation transported 1,436 land iguanas from North Seymour Island to Santiago Island. The Galapagos land iguana was introduced to North Seymour in the 1930s, and the population has been able to populate successfully. As the population reached 5,000 and food availability declined, scientists hoped this effort would also help stabilize the populations on North Seymour. In 2022, scientists found lizards of different ages as well as unmarked specimens, indicating that their reintroduction to Santiago Island has been successful.
Flamingos in the Lagoon of Rabida Island
© Richard De Gouveia
In 2022, experts found nests of the Galapagos flamingo, also referred to as the Caribbean flamingo, on the shore of a saltwater lagoon off Rabida Island. This was the first time in 20 years that they had been documented in this habitat. This success comes after 12 years of extensive invasive species removal efforts across the island. This work has been integral in efforts to regain ecosystem integrity and ensure the survival of native and endemic species. Radiba Island is also home to sea lions, white-cheeked pintails, pelicans, boobies and nine different species of finches.
New Efforts to Re-Wild the Galapagos
© Richard De Gouveia
Re:wild, Island Conservation and Galapagos National Park Directorate have unveiled a 10-year plan to work with local communities to re-wild Latin America’s Pacific archipelagos. The first phase of this work will focus on the Galapagos Islands, specifically Floreana Island. These partners will work together to restore Floreana Island, home to 54 threatened species, and reintroduce 13 locally extinct species.
Floreana Island is unique in that the island has never had endemic rodents. Therefore, when invasive species began to arrive on the island in the 20th century, local wildlife didn’t have any evolutionary advantages that would help them cope. Scientists and conservationists will be able to successfully reintroduce 13 locally extinct species to Floreana Island once the culprit of their extinction, invasive species such as rats, have been eradicated.
Once Floreana Island can support healthy ecosystems of reintroduced wildlife, Re:wild and partners will be able to reintroduce genetically similar Floreana giant tortoises from Isabela Island to Floreana Island. As ecosystem engineers and seed dispersers, their presence on the island will also support the reintroduction efforts of Floreana mockingbirds and even Galapagos hawks. Since 2017, Re:wild has found eight of its 25 most wanted lost species!
Support Efforts to Find Lost Species
As the official travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, Natural Habitat Adventures works with some of the world’s most accomplished scientists to develop the best nature travel adventures on the planet. On Galapagos Discovery: The Nat Hab Experience, travelers can see some of the rarest wildlife on Earth. At the Charles Darwin Research Station, you can visit the world-famous giant tortoise-rearing center in Puerto Ayora, the main town of Santa Cruz. Here, international scientists conduct research dedicated to conserving the unique habitats and species of the Galapagos. You’ll also visit the protection pens where hatchlings are bred to help increase depleted tortoise populations. Traveling with Nat Hab means that your expedition supports re-wilding efforts in the Galapagos.
© Richard De Gouveia
The post Galapagos Species That Are Back from the Brink first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.