A Unique Mission for an Exceptional Area of the World
The Galapagos Islands
The chain of nineteen islands that make up the Galapagos archipelago have been called “a priceless living laboratory,” a melting pot of exceedingly rare animals that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
What many people don’t know is that in addition to the uninhabited islands, the Galapagos also has a substantial human population. Four of the islands are inhabited by 40,000 people, most of whom work as farmers, fishermen, and in the local wildlife tourism sector.
Both the animals and humans of this idyllic UNESCO World Heritage Site, however, are in jeopardy because of an overpopulation of rats on the islands. The rodent overpopulation on the Galapagos is threatening the very survival of endemic species. Meanwhile, rats are also imperiling the livelihood and food sources of the local population (galapagueños are dependent on crops grown on the islands to supplement the foodstuffs brought by container ship once a month).