Santa Cruz Island
We pulled into Academy Bay this morning around six-thirty. The long navigation from the western waters of the archipelago had been smooth, and we rolled gently at anchor as the morning got under way. A visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station at feeding time allowed us to see the giant reptiles in an excited state awaiting their brunch, served three times a week to keep them slim and fit. They were moving around in anticipation of juicy titbits of taro and soon were feasting well.
The land iguanas, also in captivity for breeding, were distracted by the food which had interrupted their mooning at each other through the windows in their enclosures. It’s coming up to mating season for them, but males and females are kept apart until the appropriate moment as calculated by the scientists in charge.
The warm, wet season is now upon us. The clouds are starting to hang low, and waves of light drizzle came and went throughout our morning in town, the lowlands of Santa Cruz. However the highlands receive more rain in general, and the afternoon had it’s moments of downpour. But with rubber boots on and rain gear at the ready, the giant tortoises who live their lives wandering the lush green areas above 1,000 feet were enjoying the plesant weather. In other words, being themselves: eating, resting, lounging, soaking, while life goes on around them; cattle walk by, vermillion flycatchers and finches fly by, photographers and family pose by.
Musicians appeared on board in the evening, and lively music got toes tapping. Finally, with some encouragement, bodies started moving to the rhythms and dancing lessons were offered for salsa, meringue and cumbia,ll very popular Latin American dancing styles. What a full day!
We pulled into Academy Bay this morning around six-thirty. The long navigation from the western waters of the archipelago had been smooth, and we rolled gently at anchor as the morning got under way. A visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station at feeding time allowed us to see the giant reptiles in an excited state awaiting their brunch, served three times a week to keep them slim and fit. They were moving around in anticipation of juicy titbits of taro and soon were feasting well.
The land iguanas, also in captivity for breeding, were distracted by the food which had interrupted their mooning at each other through the windows in their enclosures. It’s coming up to mating season for them, but males and females are kept apart until the appropriate moment as calculated by the scientists in charge.
The warm, wet season is now upon us. The clouds are starting to hang low, and waves of light drizzle came and went throughout our morning in town, the lowlands of Santa Cruz. However the highlands receive more rain in general, and the afternoon had it’s moments of downpour. But with rubber boots on and rain gear at the ready, the giant tortoises who live their lives wandering the lush green areas above 1,000 feet were enjoying the plesant weather. In other words, being themselves: eating, resting, lounging, soaking, while life goes on around them; cattle walk by, vermillion flycatchers and finches fly by, photographers and family pose by.
Musicians appeared on board in the evening, and lively music got toes tapping. Finally, with some encouragement, bodies started moving to the rhythms and dancing lessons were offered for salsa, meringue and cumbia,ll very popular Latin American dancing styles. What a full day!
