My 233 Journey: Galapagos Islands-Isabela Island Marine Iguanas and Blue-footed Boobies

Island Hopping-Isabela Island We first took a boat from Santa Cruz Island to Isabela Island. Upon arrival, we transferred to a small boat for a one-hour tour, where we saw Galapagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, cormorants, sea lions, and sea turtles. Afterward, we visited a small island and walked along a volcanic rock path, where we could see many nurse sharks waiting in the channel by the shore and sea turtles swimming back and forth. Finally, we returned to the dock by boat, then traveled by car to the residential area of Isabela Island for lunch. After the meal, we visited the Giant Tortoise Conservation Center and Flamingo Lake (which had only a few flamingos), before returning to the Isabela Island dock by car and then taking a boat back to Santa Cruz Island. Images 2-7: Marine iguanas are primarily found in the Galapagos Islands and are the only semi-marine lizards in existence. They have special physiological structures adapted for marine life, including a flat tail, sharp claws, developed muscles, and fierce eyes. The spiny crest on their back is clearly defined, indicating they are formidable creatures not to be messed with. Despite their fierce appearance, they have remarkably gentle temperaments and never attack humans unprovoked. Their favorite activity is sunbathing while dozing off. According to the IUCN Red List, they are classified as "Vulnerable." Images 10-14: Blue-footed Boobies The Sulidae family includes nine species, such as blue-footed boobies and Cape gannets, mainly distributed in tropical and temperate seas. Blue-footed boobies inhabit the islands of the eastern Pacific. The most distinctive feature of blue-footed boobies is their pair of bright blue feet. These colorful webbed feet play an important role in courtship: during breeding season, males attract females by lifting their legs high, displaying their blue feet, spreading their upturned wings, touching the female's beak, and picking up twigs or stones to place on the ground. They generally practice monogamy. Images 15-16: Blue-footed booby and Galapagos penguin Images 17-19: Volcanic rock island Image 20: Cormorant