Thisgrasslandwasoncecoveredbythick forest.
BetweenManandGoat
Invasivespeciesincludeanimals,too.Thereare13introducedspeciesofmammalsinthe Galápagos.✻Theonethathascausedthemostdamageisthegoat.Whalers,pirates,andfishersbroughtgoatstotheislandsinthe1850s.Bythelate1990s,thetotalnumberofgoatsreachedsix figures.
Goatsareknownfortheirappetites.Overtime,theyatetheirwaythroughlargepatchesof land.
✻ Bats andriceratsaretheonlymammalsnativetotheGalápagos Islands.
TakingBacktheIslands
Onceaninvasivespeciestakesover,howdoyougetridofit?Galápagosfarmersfighttheblackberryoneplantatatime.Theyripthemoutby hand.
Thegoatswereanothermatter.Theirgrazingthreatenedthesurvivalofrareplantsandtrees.In2004,ProjectIsabelawasenacted.Goatswerekilled,soplantandanimallifecouldcome back.
aherdof goatsonIsabela Island
Invasivespeciesposearealthreattotheislands.Eachmustbemonitoredandmanagedtoprotectthe islands.
Goatseatplantslikepricklypearcactus,whichisfoodforgianttortoises,landiguanas,doves,cactusfinches,and mockingbirds.