Galapagos Sally Lightfoot Crab: photographer Chris Hall

Galapagos Conservation Trust: Newsroom > Latest news > January 2008

GCT PRESS RELEASE: GALAPAGOS SEA LION MASSACRE

31 January 2008

Dr. Marilyn Cruz, veterinarian for the GNPS, examined the bodies of the Galapagos sea lions found dead on Pinta
Copyright © Galapagos National Park Service

We were shocked to learn this week about the massacre of 53 Galapagos sea lions on Pinta Island. One of the things that makes Galapagos so special is the trusting nature of the wildlife and there can be no justification for killing these defenseless creatures. We have been talking to our two key partners in Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), to see what can be done to ensure that this cruelty cannot be repeated, either on the island of Pinta or elsewhere in Galapagos.

An investigation has already been initiated to quickly determine the causes and persons responsible, and the CDF is helping the National Park Service to survey the status of other sea lion colonies in the islands to check this is an isolated incident.

The National Park Service has now released the following statement about the incident:

THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK COMMUNICATED INITIAL RESULTS OF AN INVESTIGATION

On January 2, as part of an ongoing campaign to control and eradicate feral goats, park wardens of the Galapagos National Park (GNP) visited the islands of Floreana, Isabela, Santiago and Pinta. On the island Pinta, located approximately 100 miles from the park headquarters on the island of Santa Cruz, the wardens reported the sighting of a large number of dead Galapagos Sea Lions in an advanced state of decomposition.

Although groups of scientists and GNPS staff have visited Pinta five times in the last six months, this is the first report of an irregularity on the island.

As a result of the report received from the wardens the GNPS initiated an official investigation into the deaths on January 8th. The evidence to date shows that the probable cause of death was trauma to the skull as 96% of the 53 bodies found had cranial fractures; this rules out the possibility of death by natural causes or disease. None of the bodies bore evidence of skin cutting or mutilation of organs or extremities.

In spite of the advanced state of decomposition, 9 adult males, 6 adult females, 25 immature sea lions and 13 pups were identified.

The GNPS has filed a report with the Galapagos Judicial Authorities and requested a full investigation to establish criminal responsibility for the deaths.

On January 25th, the Galapagos National Park in conjunction with the Charles Darwin Foundation initiated aerial and boat based surveys of the archipelago to verify the status of other colonies of Galapagos Sea Lions in the islands.

Official Communication of the Galapagos National Park Service.

For more information please contact: info@spng.org.ec, or visit www.galapagospark.org.

Notes to editors:

Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting Galapagos. Established in 1995 GCT generates income for numerous projects to protect the unique biodiversity of the islands and meet the challenges of how the human population can live in balance with the unique environment and wildlife of Galapagos. GCT also provides crucial support to the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. To find out more visit our website www.savegalapagos.org.
Lying 600 miles of the coast of Ecuador the Galapagos Islands make up one of most important wildlife areas in the world and became Darwin's most significant stop-off during his survey aboard HMS Beagle. His observations and discoveries of new species here became the bedrock for his theory of evolution through natural selection. Today the islands make up the second largest Marine Reserve in the World and are famously still home to the giant tortoise, marine iguana, flightless cormorant, blue-footed booby, waved albatross and Darwin finch.
The Galapagos Islands were the first area to be designated a World Heritage Site. In 2007 the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) included Galapagos on its List of World Heritage in Danger.

Contact:

All enquiries about this incident should be directed to Vanessa Garcia (vgarcia@spng.org.ec) in the Galapagos National Park.
For enquiries about the Galapagos Conservation Trust, please contact Toni Darton, Chief Executive, Galapagos Conservation Trust. Tel: 020 7629 5049. Email: toni@gct.org

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