Emergent conservation conflicts in the Galapagos Islands: Human-giant tortoise interactions in the rural area of Santa Cruz Island

A growing conflict between human agricultural development and the conservation of Galapagos giant tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) has emerged on Santa Cruz Island, threatening the species' recovery. Research reveals that farmers experiencing crop damage are more likely to take aggressive measures against tortoises, such as fencing or physical intervention, regardless of their overall perception of the animals. Economic losses for crops and fences average 2.8 USD per square meter and 13 USD per meter, respectively, highlighting significant financial impacts. The study also estimated tortoise densities at 76 individuals per km² during lowland migrations (January–June) and 185 per km² during highland migrations (July–December). Combining participatory rural appraisal methods with ecological transect counts, this work provides critical data to guide conservation strategies, offering a balanced approach to resolving human-wildlife conflicts in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Benitez-Capistros, F., Camperio, G., Hugé, J., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., & Koedam, N. (2018). Emergent conservation conflicts in the Galapagos Islands: Human-giant tortoise interactions in the rural area of Santa Cruz Island. Plos One, 13(9), e0202268. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202268