THE ISABELA PROJECT ACHIEVES THE IMPOSSIBLE

The Director of the Galapagos National Park (GNP), Raquel Molina, announced during the 47th anniversary celebrations of the creation of the Galapagos National Park, the successful culmination of field activities of the Isabela Project, a biinstitutional project carried out in partnership with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and, that for 8 years seemed impossible. Speaking to GNP and CDF staff and invited dignitaries at the GNP facilities in Puerto Ayora on 4th July, Molina congratulated the project coordinators Felipe Cruz, Victor Carrión and their team of 32 park wardens, emphasizing their dedication and unflagging efforts to assure the restoration of the islands.

The Isabela Project is the largest invasive species eradication project ever undertaken in the world. Today the Isabela Project team is confident that after almost eight years they have achieved the elimination of the feral goats from northern Isabela Island, the largest island of the Galapagos archipelago and its neighboring Santiago Island. After thousands of helicopter flight hours and arduous groundwork in which teams of men and dogs combed the islands seeking out the last of the goats - all indications are that northern Isabela and Santiago are free of these invaders.

The Ecuadorian Government, the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Program and the Friends of Galapagos organisations, and many individuals provided the financial resources to undertake the Isabela Project.

Now, not only are the feral goats no longer a threat to the fragile native ecosystem but also gone are other invasive species such as donkeys, pigs and several invasive plant species. The goats were introduced in centuries past as a food source for pirates, whalers and sealers and early colonists. Due to their great adaptability, goats quickly began to proliferate, eating native plants and were often seen in great herds along the flanks of volcanoes where they destroyed the protective cover of vegetation, causing erosion. This altered ecosystem left the rare Galapagos species without food, water and protection from the elements. The Isabela Project is a monumental step toward full ecological restoration of northern Isabela and Santiago and already the vegetation has begun to recover without the pressure of the goats.

Over 95 percent of the Isabela Project personnel are native to the islands and are now trained and experienced in specialised hunting methods and technology. Aerial hunting, the first phase, was effective in reducing the great herds of goats that roamed the islands. Then in coordination with teams of hunters and trained dogs on the ground the aerial teams sought out and eliminated the smaller herds. By 2005, the goats' numbers were so low that "Judas" goats, sterilised animals wearing tracking collars able to be detected from long distances, were able to be released and locate the remnant feral goats. The experience gained from this biinstitutional project, will be used in future invasive species eradication projects.

"We have achieved all the objectives and fulfilled all the goals that were planned many years ago" says Felipe Cruz, a native of the Galapagos, "and we can say with pride that we even surpassed what was hoped for. We have done what the world thought was impossible, making feral goats, pigs and donkeys now a story for the history books about Santiago, and northern Isabela islands."

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