One Galapagos Turtle Colony Safe, but More Are Threatened in Blaze

Firefighters battling a blaze on the largest of the Galapagos Islands said Sunday they can save 40 rare giant turtles in a colony about one mile away from the flames but are uncertain about the fate of thousands more.

“We don’t think (the turtles) are in danger; we have the fire under control in that area, and if necessary we are ready to move them out,” a Civil Defense official said in a telephone interview.

But the colony is only one of several threatened by the fire that broke out 13 days ago for unknown reasons and has burned an estimated 15,000 acres of land on Isabela Island.

There are about 10,000 turtles on the island, some of which weigh up to 400 pounds, and officials fear that many will die because it could take at least a month to extinguish the blaze unless there is rain.

An official said if the fire continues heading in the same direction, they will have a “large tragedy” in their hands because there are too many turtles to evacuate.

Efforts to save the turtles were also jeopardized by a lack of coordination between firefighters and local residents.

A Civil Defense spokesman said the fire would have been contained last week had both sides been able to agree on a strategy.

A photographer at the scene said there were also instances of local residents hindering, instead of helping, firemen extinguish the blaze.