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The Ecology of Extreme Environments: Galapagos
Journal of Renee Price '08
Degree: Bachelor of Liberal Arts
Major/Department: Environmental Studies
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Division: Natural Sciences
Reflections, January 31st, 2006
I keep having compulsions to walk up to animals, observe them, see just how close I can get to them. I mean by about two inches away from their face and watch how they’ll pose for my camera. To my dismay, they all flee in terror, except for domesticated animals that break that too close barrier and lick my nose.
I noticed that this as one of my first observations when I went to the Galapagos nearly two weeks ago. This strange quality of animals almost coexisting with people and
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| January 22nd, my very first animal encounter, on Isla Lobos with a few month old sea lion. |
enjoying it rather then possessing a fearful trait causing them to know to keep distance. To me, it is so terribly sad that animals here cannot trust people, that they know we prey upon them for food and, unfortunately, sport.
As a child always interested in nature and who grew up with a 15-acre forest as a play place, this behavior tortured and frustrated me. Why wouldn’t birds jump on my figures and perform other Disney-like mannerisms? Why didn’t they understand me when I told them that I did not want to hurt them, just simply play for a few hours until my mom called me in for dinner? Scientists believe that the animals in the Galapagos have not lived side by side with humans long enough to develop the common fear as animals here, and I hope that even with the great increase of tourism with in the islands, that they never do develop this characteristic.
If I had been a child when I took my journey to the Galapagos, I would have been the happiest child alive. But even as a young adult, my interaction with the animals was the greatest highlight of my journey.
Photographs
For more a complete portfolio of photographs from Renee's trip to the Galapagos, click here.
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