The islands of the Galápagos, situated off the coast of Ecuador in South America, are home to some of the world's most fascinating wildlife and are visited by thousands of tourists each year.
From famous finches to marine iguanas, the Galapagos is a dream location for anyone interested in the natural world. The islands, located off the coast of Ecuador, are home to some of the world's most unusual wildlife. An invaluable guide, Watching Wildlife Galapagos Islands features detailed coverage of conservation issues, ecotourism and natural history, hundreds of colour photographs that highlight the rich variety of fauna, and numerous ways to explore the volcanic beauty ashore or the snorkelling wonders of the seas.
A beautifully illustrated and deeply personal chronicle of De Roy's lifelong connection with these spectacular islands Tui De Roy was a year old in 1955 when her family left Europe, boarding a banana boat bound for the Pacific to lead a different sort of life in Galápagos, one of self-sufficiency and living close to nature. She grew up on the islands and returned to them often over the next five decades. Discovering photography at a young age, she has dedicated her life to recording the islands' natural history in infinite detail. A Lifetime in Galápagos is De Roy's intimate portrait of one of the most spectacular places on Earth, presenting the wildlife and natural wonders of Galápagos as you have never seen them before. Featuring hundreds of breathtaking color photos, this stunning book guides you into labyrinthine mangroves to observe nesting herons, to misty cloud forests to glimpse flycatchers and orchids, high onto erupting volcanoes, and into the ocean to swim with hammerhead sharks. De Roy's lens provides up-close encounters with orca and sperm whales, colonies of iguanas, and the giant tortoises of Alcedo Volcano. She paints unforgettable portraits of her childhood in Galápagos—the islands at night under the stars of the Milky Way, sea lions at play and on the hunt, the diverse birdlife of Galápagos, and much more. Blending striking images with vivid prose, A Lifetime in Galápagos also discusses the threats that global warming and other environmental challenges pose to the archipelago's unique wildlife and fragile habitats.
Bradt's fully illustrated wildlife guides focus on regions of the world particularly celebrated for their amazing and often unique species. With spectacular photography or exclusive watercolour drawings throughout, each visitors' guide provides an introduction to the region's principal flora and fauna alongside suggested wildlife itineraries, practical information on when to go and what to take and photography tips. Written in a deliberately engaging way, they offer something different from dry field guides, and will appeal to the interested layman as much as the wildlife devotee. Ideal as a lightweight companion to any wildlife trip they also make a handsome souvenir. The Pantanal of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay is South America's Serengeti: its wetlands are the largest on earth (they're half the size of France) and, in the dry season, crocodiles and storks jostle to gobble the last of the dying fish. Here, the continent's largest cat, the jaguar, lives alongside giant otters, anacondas and the world's largest parrot. A comprehensive introduction to the best place to watch wildlife in South America, and beautifully illustrated throughout, Bradt's Pantanal Wildlife is the only portable book to cover all the main wildlife groups while focussing exclusively on the Pantanal.Based in Argentina, James Lowen is a wildlife writer, editor, photographer and lecturer. He is editor of the only magazine to focus on birdwatching in Latin America.
This new, thoroughly updated and lavishly illustrated fourth edition of Bradt’s Galápagos Wildlife is packed with information and magnificent pictures to aid in identifying key species, all in an easy-to-carry format that covers everything from the wildlife that you’re likely to encounter, whether flying in the air, running along the ground or swimming underwater, to a succinct history of the islands, their habitats and volcanic origins. This guide includes the most detailed descriptions and maps of the main visitor sites of any book in print, so you can see where a boat will land and what can be seen there – enabling you to plan effectively for a rewarding visit. An overview of conservation efforts is also included, as are unique island trail plans for those looking to explore. Written and illustrated by two expert-naturalist guides, who have both been visiting the islands for decades, this new edition covers all the latest information, from the discovery of an ‘extinct’ tortoise species not seen for over 100 years on Fernandina island and the discovery of new rare ‘pink iguanas’ on Isabela island’s Wolf volcano (the highest point on the Galápagos), to the change in taxonomy of ‘Darwin’s finches’ and the new species status of the almost-extinct little vermillion flycatcher. Snorkelling with sea lions, penguins and sharks at Devil’s Crown, Floreana is included, as is kayaking in pristine locations such as Española’s Gardiner Bay. Travelling to the Galápagos is a rite of passage for serious wildlife enthusiasts. Now with more detailed descriptions, more photos, and updated information on conservation efforts, Bradt's Galápagos Wildlife is the perfect companion for this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
The Galápagos are home to a wide-ranging assortment of unusual plants and animals. The islands became famous as the site of Charles Darwin's research leading to his theory of evolution by natural selection, and their magnificent flora and fauna continue to draw visitors from around the world. Based on the author's 16 years of fieldwork and featuring his exceptional photography, Flowering Plants of the Galápagos is the first accessible, in-depth yet compact guide to the plant life of the area. An invaluable resource for tourists, natural history enthusiasts, and professionals, the book: • Introduces the botanical history of the islands and their varied ecological zones • Allows easy identification of 436 flowering plants (77 families, 192 genera, and 390 species) • Covers endemic plants found exclusively on the islands; native plants, which grow on the Galápagos and elsewhere; and exotic plants present as a result of human actions • Offers thorough accounts of the plants which give the scientific, common, and family names; range; islands inhabited; habitat; description; and additional notes of interest • Is richly illustrated with 266 color photographs of flowering plants and 117 of plant pollinators, vegetation zones, non-flowering plants, and the islands themselves • Organizes species by form, leaf arrangement, and flower color and includes descriptive plant drawings to aid in identification • Provides a map of the Galápagos and a list of plants likely to be seen at popular tourist sites
"As Ezzy Skylar's mother lay dying, her father promised to take Ezzy and her younger brother, Luke, to all of the places on his wife's wonder-list, starting with the Galâapagos Islands. There's just one problem: while Luke loves all living things, Ezzy freaks out around wild animals. For her family, Ezzy must face her fears and walk with iguanas, swim with sea lions and sharks, and pretend to dance among blue-footed boobies. Things take a dangerous turn when hijackers take over their cruise ship. Ezzy, Luke, and Aiden, a teen they meet on the ship, are stranded on remote and wild Isabela Island, where an erupting volcano adds to the action and adventure. Ezzy must find bravery she never knew she had and rely on her little brother's help to make their way across the island in an attempt to rescue a ship full of tourists and the animals of the Galâapagos."--Provided by publisher.
This pocket-sized volume is a comprehensive guide to the unique wildlife of the Galapagos, encompassing the birds, mammals, and reptiles a visitor to these extraordinary islands might encounter. 53 color plates.
This book focuses on how marine systems respond to natural and anthropogenic perturbations (ENSO, overfishing, pollution, tourism, invasive species, climate-change). Authors explain in their chapters how this information can guide management and conservation actions to help orient and better manage, restore and sustain the ecosystems services and goods that are derived from the ocean, while considering the complex issues that affect the delicate nature of the Islands. This book will contribute to a new understanding of the Galapagos Islands and marine ecosystems.