The first census counts 211 pink iguanas in the Galapagos Islands
A scientific expedition to the Ecuadorean archipelago has conducted the first census of the population of the pink iguana, an endemic species that was only described by science in 2009, the Galapagos National Park (GNP) announced Friday.
About thirty scientists and rangers took part in the ten-day expedition to Wolfe Volcano in August, north of Isabela Island (the largest in the archipelago), “allowing a population estimate of 211 pink iguanas,” according to GNP. in the current situation.
‘Urgent action needed’
The pink iguana (Conolophus marthae) lives exclusively in an area of 25 square kilometers and “being restricted to one site makes the species more vulnerable,” which the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers critically endangered, said Washington Tapia, director of Conservation at the Galapagos Conservancy of America, which organized the expedition with GNP.
“There is a need to take urgent action to ensure its preservation,” he added.
Cameras have been installed to study their behavior and document the threats they face.
The Galapagos archipelago is located 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador and is classified as a World Heritage and World Biosphere Reserve for its unique flora and fauna.
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