Galapagos Conservation Trust and Andean Trails

The Galapagos Islands are a paradise to holiday in.

But they are also a paradise in need of protection and conservation.

At Andean Trails, while making your Galapagos holiday come true, we are also supporting the fantastic work of the Galapagos Conservation Trust. Read on to find out more…

Marti the Hammerhead Shark

Galapagos Conservation Trust and Andean Trails

As well as donating annually to the Galapagos Conservation Trust, and offering travellers on our Galapagos cruises and Galapagos land-based holidays the option to receive a free 1 year membership with the trust, Andean Trails also got involved financially when we heard of the innovative and brilliant “Storybook Project”.

Ben Stockwell from GCT says:

“We would like to thank all of our supporters, including Andean Trails, for helping to make the storybook project such a huge success and we look forward to continuing Marti’s journey.”

In early 2019, GCT launched a Crowdfunder for their very first storybook, Marti the Hammerhead Shark. It is an educational book for children following the migration of a young hammerhead shark from her home in Galapagos to Cocos Island, Costa Rica. The Crowdfunder sought to raise enough money to print books for all schools across Galapagos, helping to inspire young people on the Islands to engage with shark and marine conservation. Andean Trails lent their support to the project, providing funds for a school pack in Galapagos and for one to go to a local primary school in the UK.

School session © GSC/Archipielago Films

Although the Galapagos Marine Reserve is well protected, migratory species, including hammerheads, are vulnerable to threats such as industrial fishing outside of the reserve boundaries. Under the Endangered Sharks of Galapagos Programme, GCT aims to form a protected ‘swimway’ between the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and Cocos island, Costa Rica – to protect animals taking the very journey that Marti’s story is based on. The book holds an important role in raising the profile of this globally significant research and inspiring people to engage in shark and marine conservation.

With the support of Andean Trails, as well as other donors, GCT has managed to print 1,000 books to go to schools in Galapagos for children throughout the islands. This has proved popular with both children and families. Community engagement has been overwhelmingly positive, with 300 local residents attending the book’s launch. Furthermore, project partners the Galapagos Science Center, have delivered 12 educational sessions in schools on San Cristobal island. They have also developed a range of educational activities in English and Spanish to further engage children internationally in shark conservation. The storybook has even picked up some celebrity fans, including world renowned marine biologist Dr Sylvia Earle.

Dr Earle and Max Bello © Dr Alex Hearn

The Galapagos storybook is just one component of GCT’s Galapagos Oceans Outreach Programme. The overarching aim of the programme is to raise awareness of conservation issues through school and community engagement, but also to provide practical opportunities for engaging local people in conservation science and research on the Islands.

Pages from the book

If you are interested in getting a copy of Marti the Hammerhead Shark: A Galapagos Storybook, you can order your copy of Marti the Hammerhead Shark here.

Kat and the girls enjoying the book

More fundraising by the Andean Trails team 

Kat and her young daughter Lina ran 2.6 km on the 5^th of May 2020 to raise funds for the Galapagos Conservation Trust.

Bravo! Lina for that incredible effort and to date having raised £241. She was very proud of herself and enjoyed being cheered on by her friends in her neighbourhood, who watched and clapped along the way!

You can still sponsor her and raise vital funds for research and conservation in the Galapagos: https://www.justgiving.com/fun…/lina-and-kat-s-2-6-challenge

Lina, the fundraiser

This was part of the 2.6 challenge to raise funds for charity due to the cancellation of the London Marathon.

Kathy and her son Lewis also raised £126 for Rainforest Concern by cycling 26 km.

Great effort by Lewis to help another amazing charity Andean Trails loves to support – protecting endangered forests, their wildlife and the indigenous people depending on them.

You can still donate via https://www.justgiving.com/…/lewis-and-kathy-26-challenge-2…

Lewis, the fundraiser