The Critically Endangered Galápagos Petrel is under threat on the ‘Enchanted Isles’ where they breed. By empowering farm owners to champion their resident wildlife, Paola and NGO Fundación Jocotoco will conserve the significant breeding population of Petrels outside protected areas on Santa Cruz, Galápagos.

ENCHANTED ISLES

The Galápagos Islands straddle the equator 1,000km from the coast of Ecuador. This volcanic archipelago is well known for its high number of endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Despite a rich history of scientific discovery, starting with Charles Darwin in the 1830’s, important knowledge gaps remain for many species. The Galápagos Petrel is one such species, emblematic of Galápagos’ rich biodiversity and evolutionary heritage, but little known. Petrels spend most of their lives out at sea, foraging for food across the Eastern Pacific, sometimes travelling up to 2,000km.

ON THE BRINK

In the humid highlands of Galápagos, Petrels return to land each April, when their nests are found on five out of the 18 main islands. An elusive species, it nests quietly in natural cavities and burrows, only coming out at night to hunt on the open seas. This strategy evolved in response to their only natural predators from the skies, Galápagos hawks and owls. Today, the Petrel is threatened by invasive land predators, such as rats, habitat degradation from poorly managed livestock, and threats at sea. As a result, numbers have plummeted from 27,000 breeding pairs in the 1970’s to fewer than 3,500 a decade later. Its ongoing survival reflects the health of the highlands and surrounding ocean.

EMPOWERING LANDOWNERS

Based on Santa Cruz, one of the four inhabited islands and home to 18,000 residents, this project will draw attention to the role that private landowners can play in conservation. Following the identification of 74 previously undocumented Galápagos Petrel nests on private farms, Paola and her team realised that Petrel survival is also dependent on these landowners, who were previously unaware that this Critically Endangered species was nesting on their property. In coordination with the Galápagos National Park Directorate, Paola’s team will develop strategies to protect these nesting burrows, implement invasive predator control and monitor the nests using camera traps. They will also satellite track adults to better understand their foraging patterns, and work with youth to raise awareness. As a fellow Galapagueño, Paola is ensuring conservation is embedded in the community, working with her team to inspire and support the island’ s residents to protect the wildlife they share their lands with.

With the Whitley Award Paola and her team will:

• Protect Galápagos Petrel nests on private lands on Santa Cruz through controlling invasive predators
• Satellite track adult Petrels to provide critical data on foraging areas and potential interactions with fisheries
• Foster a new generation of environmental stewards through education programmes and field visits with local schools

“Soy Galapagueña—The islands, ocean, people, and wildlife define my identity. Unfortunately, the extraordinary diversity of life here is threatened.”

Image credits: Bryan Perez Saltos (Banner, Headshot, Youtube cover, Galapagos Petrel in nest, Jocotoco fieldwork), Jim Muchmore (Galapagos Petrel flying)