Witnessing the Volcanic Fury in Galápagos: Jorge Carrión’s Unique Perspective From the Field
Very few people get to witness a volcano at the point of eruption. But for the second time in just two years, Dr. Jorge Carrión, our Director of Conservation at Galápagos Conservancy, has been a privileged witness first-hand to the majesty and fury of vulcanism as it unfolds in these remote Galápagos Islands.
Conserving endangered wildlife among volcanic eruptions
In January 2022, Jorge was leading a conservation expedition on Wolf Volcano on the northern end of Isabela Island to study and protect the volcano’s endemic iconic pink iguana on Isabela Island. Alongside other conservation officers from Galápagos Conservancy and park rangers from the Galápagos National Park Directorate, Jorge was at the crater’s edge searching for iguanas when the volcano suddenly erupted. Fortunately, the team was located on the opposite side of the crater where the eruption occurred, and the field team was able to evacuate quickly thanks to the logistics support of the National Park and the collaboration of the yacht “Octopus.”
Two years later, on March 3rd, while on another conservation mission to Wolf Volcano, Jorge witnessed another impressive natural spectacle: the eruption of La Cumbre Volcano on the neighboring Fernandina Island, the youngest in the archipelago. From his position on Wolf Volcano, Jorge could see how the neighboring island came to life with explosions that sent brilliant columns of gas and ash rising into the night sky.
For Jorge, these experiences have been involved more than merely observing natural events. They provide powerful reminders of the critical importance of conservation in such a dynamic and fragile environment as Galápagos. As the leader of our conservation team, Jorge embodies the dedication and passion needed necessary to protect these unique ecosystems in this dynamic and fragile environment as Galápagos.
Conserving life on the edge The Role of Scientific Research and Environmental Education
The current eruption of La Cumbre Volcano, while not posing a significant immediate threat to any Galápagos wildlife, serves as a stark reminder of the constant volcanic activity that has shaped these islands over millions of years and still can occasionally imperil species.
Our expeditions to these remote volcanoes provide our staff such as Jorge with valuable opportunities to understand the geological processes and their ecological impacts and help educate the public about the importance of conservation and risk management for fragile biodiversity in the volcanic environments of Galápagos.
At Galápagos Conservancy, we are proud to have leaders like Jorge Carrión, whose passion and dedication to getting out in the field to help save the archipelago’s incredible biodiversity also enable him to witness the vast and awesomely powerful forces of vulcanism that shape the fate of many species in these islands.
