Isla Guadalupe

 island, volcano, nature reserve

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Isla Guadalupe, or Guadalupe Island, is home to the greatest conservation biology success story in the world. Between 1840 and 1870 the Northern Elephant Seal was hunted nearly to extinction. A few dozen managed to survive, breeding on this remote island. In 1922, the Mexican Government declared Isla Guadalupe a biological reserve, protecting the seals from hunting. As a result of this action the population is now approximately 170,000 individuals!

The volcanic island is also home to the endangered Guadalupe Fur Seal (nearest relative is the Galapagos Fur Seal) and a rare beaked whale. Unlike other seals, the Guadalupe Fur Seal has the curious habit of resting with its head pointed down in the water, possibly an adaptation to the presence of large numbers of white sharks in these waters. The formerly abundant marine mammals on this island is reflected in the history of the name "Isla Guadalupe." First noted on a map by a French navigator the island was named "Garde Lupes." Later Spanish mariners assumed it was an error and referred to the island as the more familiar placename "Guadalupe."

This northern end of the island is quite high, over 1000 meters, was once covered by unique forests of pine, cypress, and palms. But goats left by sailors in the late 1700's became large herds and subjected the island to heavy grazing for over 150 years. The forest has been reduced to the two small patches seen at the lower end of this rectangle. A recent goat eradication program shows excellent promise of restoring some of this original vegetation.

For more information in english see www.sdnhm.org/research/guadalupe/isla.html
and in Spanish see gaceta.cicese.mx/ver.php?topico=breviario&ejemplar=103&...
If your Spanish is good, this book is the definitive compilation of research on Isla Guadalupe as of 2006.