The past few weeks have brought exciting news from the Galapagos: tagging data has revealed an unprecedented migration path for scalloped hammerhead sharks, and Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, visited the islands, leaving her mark with a symbolic name for a baby giant tortoise.
Hammerhead Shark Birthing Migration
In 2023, a pregnant female scalloped hammerhead shark—nicknamed “Alicia”—was tagged at Darwin Island, one of the best-known sites for spotting hammerhead and whale sharks. With a clearly distended abdomen, Alicia was believed to be pregnant.
She remained within the Galapagos Marine Reserve for a few more months before swimming to the Gulf of Chiriquí off the coast of Panama, where researchers believe she gave birth to between 15 and 30 pups. After giving birth, Alicia embarked on a remarkable 3,000 km journey westward into international waters. By late July, she had settled more than 1,800 km west of the Galapagos, where she stayed until the tag’s battery died.
Over seven months, Alicia traveled nearly 6,000 km (3,728 miles), the longest distance ever recorded for a scalloped hammerhead shark.
This discovery could change the way conservation policies are approached across borders, as protecting migratory species requires cooperation between nations.
Source: Charles Darwin Station
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Miss Universe 2024 visit in the Enchanted Islands
During her global tour, Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, visited the Galápagos Islands in July. While on Santa Cruz Island, she took part in conservation activities and was honored with naming a baby giant tortoise. Her choice for a name was “Hope”, a powerful message about the future of conservation.
Victoria also experienced a few classic Galapagos moments, including a playful sea lion encounter on North Seymour Island that quickly won her heart. She explored the islands’ natural beauty, tasted local flavors such as Galapagos-grown coffee, and met with conservationists and community members.
Visits like this help raise global awareness of the islands’ ecological significance and the urgent need to protect their fragile ecosystems.
Source: Ministry of Tourism