In Pictures: Diverse Galapagos wildlife under threat from El Nino

El Nino can completely and dramatically change the ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands, impacting the many creatures that call the area home.

Updated

Published

Jun 10, 2019, 03:53 PM

A lava lizard found only on San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands sits on a piece of drift wood at La Loberia Beach. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Two finches pictured on a piece of lava rock at La Loberia Beach on San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A marine turtle in the waters near Kicker Rock on the outskirts of San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Pelicans and magnificent frigatebirds (top) seen at the morning fish market on Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A marine turtle in the waters near Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A street alley in San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Marine iguanas sit on lava rock formations at La Loberia Beach on San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Sea lions at a beach in San Cristobal on the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Sea lions at a beach in San Cristobal on the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A blue-footed booby perches on a rock near a jetty on San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

During El Nino years, sea birds such as the magnificent frigatebirds (pictured) and blue-footed boobies are unable to feed their chicks. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Nazca boobies seen on a rock off the shores of San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A blue-footed booby sits on lava rock formations in Los Tuneles (or The Tunnels) on the outskirts of Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A Galapagos penguin near Los Tuneles (or The Tunnels) on the outskirts of Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Tourists seen on a boat near Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A marine iguana sits on a rock formation on Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Pelicans (left) and magnificent frigatebirds (top) at the morning fish market on Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A male (right) blue-footed booby does a mating dance as a female looks on near Los Tuneles (or The Tunnels) of Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A Galapagos penguin near Los Tuneles (or The Tunnels) on the outskirts of Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A Galapagos penguin swims in the waters near Los Tuneles (or The Tunnels) on the outskirts of Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Casings showing 18 kinds of finches at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Unique forests of spindly Scalesia trees are threatened by invasive species such as blackberries. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A sea lion at the morning fish market on Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Marine iguanas are reptiles found only in the Galapagos and are also hit hard when higher water temperatures kill off algae they scrape off the seafloor. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A giant tortoise seen under the rain at a Tortoise Reserve on Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A blue-footed booby and Galapagos sea lions by the pier on San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands during an afternoon downpour typical of the weather during this season (April 2019). ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

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