The Galapagos National Park (PNG) announced that a scientific expedition is scheduled to survey pink iguanas for the first time. These iguanas inhabit the area around Wolf Volcano in the Galapagos archipelago.
According to PNG's Facebook page, approximately 30 scientists and park rangers will spend 10 days exploring Isabela Island, the largest in the Galapagos, where the pink iguanas are located, in order to count these rare reptiles.
The last documented mention of these iguanas in the archipelago was in 2009, with earlier studies estimating a population of 350 individuals spread across just 25 square kilometers.
"No new births have been observed so far," stated Washington Tapia, director of the US NGO Galapagos Conservancy, which is leading the expedition, in an interview with AFP.
The main goal of the expedition is to "assess the current status of the iguanas and develop conservation strategies," Tapia added, noting that scientists are also searching for hybrid tortoises that could aid in conservation efforts.
In 2020, researchers discovered a giant female tortoise in the Wolf Volcano area, belonging to the Chelonoidis abingdonii species once found on Pinta Island. This species gained fame through the iconic male tortoise Lonesome George, who died in 2012 without mating with females from other species.
Giant tortoises first settled in the Galapagos archipelago, located 1,000 km off the coast of Ecuador, between 3 to 4 million years ago. These reptiles were pivotal in Charles Darwin's studies, which contributed significantly to the development of his theory of evolution.
The Galapagos archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is renowned worldwide for its unique flora and fauna.
