On January 16th a tanker carrying 243,000 gallons of oil, ran aground near the Galapagos Islands. This terrible event spread oil slicks over 488 square miles, and has potential to cause serious irreparable harm, to this historic chain of islands. In addition to endangering many precious species, the human population in this area has also suffered greatly.

Thankfully only 170,000 gallons of oil managed to escape the vessel. Companies and the U.S. coast guard later retrieved the additional oil. Emergency aid was also requested to contain the spill as quickly as possible. Containment is currently said to be fairly successful, but most of the damage has already been done.

Two species, which highlight this spill, are the blue footed boobies and frigate birds. These birds are very territorial, apparently relocation is very difficult. The feeding areas of these birds are right in the center of the spill, which may result in a massive loss of these birds.

It angers and disappoints me, when I hear about something like this occurring. All of this damage was done because a fairly simple mistake was made. This in turn will affect hundreds of thousands of animals, and a protected environment. An interesting fact is that before 1950 fewer then 1,000 people populated the Galapagos, now it is home to over 16,000. So very simply this and other problems of the Galapagos can be associated with population.

Oil Spill Threatens in Galapagos. Excite News/Associated Press, January 23, 2001.

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