The Galapagos Islands,
Untouched by Human Hands

By Remy Sanders

Charles Darwin coined the phrase "survival of the fittest" and there may not be a more appropriate place for this theory than on Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. One might wonder why the Galapagos Islands are so famous for its environment and animals that inhabit it, however, one step within the archipelago, and your questions are answered. ¦ The Islands were created by volcanic eruptions, and the different types of lava that formed them created beaches that are white, red, or black depending on which Island you visit. People don't live on the Islands, with the exception of the Island of Santa Cruz, which is the only industrial Island in the archipelago.

Animals are the only living things that inhabit the land and there are new species of animals 'born' on the Islands frequently.

Here, humans aren't looked upon as predators. "This is because the animals don't see humans as a threat," said a native naturalist. "They see us as part of their surroundings and the environment. This is all due to the hawk".

When the hawk made its way to the Galapagos Islands, it dominated over all the animals. Its body shape, scent, and call were then memorized by the other animals as a warning that a dangerous predator was near. As a result, the animals feared the hawk, not the human. As a result, animals are not intimidated by humans at all. Tourists can actually lie beside a sea lion on the beach, walk through a flock of birds without them moving an inch, swim with sea turtles, or get lost in a group of resting iguanas.

The cycle of life on the Galapagos Islands is also natural. The fit survive - not the old, the ill, or those species that are unable to defend themselves against prey. A living example of evolution, the species that inhabit the Galapagos Islands easily adapt to the changing environment. The Cormorant, for example, is a bird that is gradually becoming a Penguin. This is happening because there was no need for the Cormorant to fly, as there is an abundance of available food on the ground. As a result, the Cormorant's wings have become lighter and shorter, and over time, they lost their ability to fly. The Islands are a rare location where respectful tourists can actually see how an environment that is naturally in balance, without the interference of man, can flourish.