Auf den Spuren der Giganten: Freiwilligendienst in einer Schildkrötenzuchtstation auf den Galápagos-Inseln.

The article describes the experiences of a person who participated in a volunteer service at a turtle breeding station on the Galápagos Islands. The person had a long-standing interest in reptiles and wanted to contribute to the reintroduction of endangered turtle species. They found the project through the website volunteerworld.com and successfully applied for the program "Assistant in a Giant Tortoise Breeding Center" run by the organization IOI. The journey to the main island of Santa Cruz was made via Amsterdam and Guayaquil, and the person spent two weeks at the turtle breeding station, where they discovered many Galápagos giant tortoises. The island of Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the archipelago and is home to the city of Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station. The Galápagos Islands are known for their unique wildlife, especially the turtles, whose species diversity was threatened by extinction. The article describes the importance of giant tortoises on the Galapagos Islands and the efforts to protect endangered species. The Charles Darwin Research Station breeds various species of turtles, including the species C. porteri and C. donfaustoi found on Santa Cruz, as well as the already extinct species C. abingdonii from the island of Pinta. The station is also dedicated to other animal protection projects. In the highlands of Santa Cruz, there is a reserve where wild giant tortoises can be observed. There are also private ranches like "El Chato" that can be visited to see the animals in their natural habitat. The article describes the visit to the ranches "El Chato" and "Terramar" on the island of Isabela in the Galapagos Archipelago. Visitors can see various species of turtles at the ranches, including larger specimens at "Terramar". The ranches are privately owned but border the national park, allowing the animals to freely roam between the ranch and the national park. The island of Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago and is home to five main volcanoes. Each volcano has its own species of tortoise. There are various ways to travel between the islands, either by plane or ferry. During the project period, volunteers can work at the "Centro de Crianza Tortugas Gigantes Arnaldo Tupiza Chamaidan", where two species of turtles are kept and bred. The work of the volunteers is closely monitored and documented. The article focuses on the tasks of the volunteers at a turtle station on the Galapagos Islands. These tasks include feeding and providing water for the animals, monitoring the enclosures, searching for and counting turtle nests, as well as transferring and incubating the eggs. The volunteers also have the opportunity to experience the native turtle species in the wild, for example, during a hike to the "Wall of Tears". The author describes their experiences on the Galapagos Islands as a unique and unforgettable experience and emphasizes the importance of local species conservation. [Extracted from the article]