About Galapagos
Situated in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos is an archipelago of 19 islands and their surrounding marine reserve. These islands and the surrounding waters are home to some of the most unique wildlife on the planet, including giant land tortoises, marine iguanas and blue footed boobies. Referred to as a unique ‘living museum,’ these islands inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has named Galapagos a World Heritage Site recognized as internationally important to the planet Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations.
Natural heritage is an irreplaceable source of life and inspiration.
Why the Galapagos?
The human population in the Galapagos has increased dramatically in the last decade. And with increased people, there has also been a huge increase in the number of dogs, cats and other domestic animals. More people and more domestic animals created an urgent need for veterinary care.
The need for Darwin Animals Doctors is twofold:
- To maintain the biodiversity of the islands by limiting the number of domestic animals humanely
- To ensure that both companion animals and wildlife will always have comprehensive veterinary care available
Special law of the Galapagos and how it affects animals
The Special Law of the Galapagos protects this archipelago in numerous ways. One way is that it prohibits the transport of animals between islands so that diseases and invasive species cannot spread from island to island. However, this also means that animals can’t be transported between islands for veterinary care. That’s why we hold campaigns that span multiple islands – to ensure veterinary care is available year-round, where the animals need it most.
Where we operate
The Galapagos has four populated islands: Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal, and Floreana. We have a permanent veterinary clinic on Santa Cruz, which is the most populated island. We also have a convenio with the capital city island, San Cristobal, to provide them with veterinary care. Our campaigns also take us to Isabela and Floreana Islands.