Wild Galápagos: Life on the Islands

The Galapagos Islands are a paradise where wildlife and humans share the same space, but this delicate balance is under increasing threat.

Sea lions lounging on park benches without fear of humans, giant tortoises crossing the street at a leisurely pace, marine iguanas hanging out on the ferry docks – wild nature within arm's reach makes the Galapagos Islands a dream destination for nature lovers. The archipelago, located 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, has developed from an insider tip to one of the most popular destinations in South America. Around 300,000 travellers visit the Galapagos National Park every year, and the trend is rising. And that's where the problems begin. Every visitor poses a threat to nature: seeds brought in by visitors can spread and disrupt the ecosystem, the tourist boom is leading to unwanted population growth, and water and energy are becoming scarce.