Charles Darwin Research Station – Galapagos Islands

There is no particular “best time” to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. It operates all year around with little discernable seasonal difference. The breeding programs also run all year around.

The Charles Darwin Station runs a program to breed and raise young giant tortoises, after which they are released into the wild. The breeding program can be seen at the station. This program is particularly important as baby tortoises are at risk from introduced species that are their predators, like rats and dogs. It is fascinating to learn about the life cycle of the giant tortoise and see everything from tiny baby giant tortoises at various stages of their development.  Aside from this, there are also several giant tortoises that reside at this research center.

Those hoping to see Lonesome George roaming in his pen at the station will be disappointed. For a long time he was the last remaining Pinta Island giant tortoise. A long-time resident at the Charles Darwin Research Station, he died in 2012. There were many attempts to find a partner for Lonesome George and to try and get him to breed, but all of these were ultimately unsuccessful. Sadly, George was the last known creature of his species, so now there are no known Pinta Island tortoises left. An exhibit dedicated to this creature, including taxidermized Lonesome George can be seen at the station.

Land iguanas are also a feature at the Charles Darwin Research Station. A number of individuals were brought to the center in a rescue mission to save them from wild dogs. This introduced species was decimating the land iguana population in the 1970s. Today, there is an ongoing and successful land iguana breeding program here, and as such land iguanas may be seen here.