Galapagos

[Fotografer]

A few shots from a recent trip to the Galapagos. The islands are a wildlife photographer's dream. A remarkable place and truly the trip of a lifetime! C&amp;C is appreciated or just take a look and enjoy. Cheers. </p>
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<p>1. This a a Blue Footed Booby, one of the favorite species in the Galapagos. When the first whalers, pirates, and explorers came to the islands in the 18th century boobys were often caught by hand thus earning them the name &quot;booby.&quot; Despite this, however, boobys are graceful seabirds and can be observed dive bombing fish from 30ft in the air. </p>
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<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3363894343_26e6920fb2_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
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<p>2. This is a baby Galapagos Tortoise, just 21 days old hatched at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Breeding programs like this one have helped repopulate the islands with these magnificent creatures. Over the course of three centuries an estimated 200,000 giant tortoises were taken off the islands by whalers and pirates. They were placed in ships' holds where they could survive with no food or water for up to a year. After five years in a breeding center the baby tortoises are released back into the wild where they are expected to live for some 200 years. </p>
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<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3363894287_827c7a245e_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
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<p>3. Sally Lightfoot crabs sport an odd color combination. Vibrant reds and oranges on top with light blue on the bottom. They're almost always found clinging to the porous volcanic rocks in the surf zone. </p>
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<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3364716144_f2566a173b_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </p>
<p>4. </p>
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<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3364752426_0267b83f78_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
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<p>5. To attract a mate male Blue Footed Boobys raise and lower their feet in a slow and dignified dance while bobbing their heads in the air and flapping their wings. Surely a highlight of any Galapagos visit. </p>
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<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3364752690_c806d48361_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
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<p>6. Grass is very tasty if you're a Galapagos tortoise. </p>
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<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3588/3364752732_ff04c87602_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
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