Animals are so much more chill when there are no predators. I took a vacation in Galapagos a few years back and most of the wildlife is like this, they just kind of stare at you for a second and go about their day.
Penguins do have predators in the leopard seals in the antarctic, but because they’re the only bipedal animals down there they seem to view people as kinda just big penguins. They seem more than happy to jump into boats with people if they think there’s a seal around or something.
And for their part, the seals also seem to view us as a curiosity or small seal. I know of at least one case where a seal tried to teach somebody how to hunt by bringing them fish and injured penguins like they would for a baby seal.
11/10 recommend. We did a cruise that hopped between islands and I’ll never forget it. swimming with sea lions, hanging out with boobies (blue footed, nasca), really cool hawks, crabs, iguanas, and my favourite the frigate birds! They look like dinosaurs and have nearly a 6 foot wing span and will hover inches above your head near your boat, they’re so cool!
Cruising is a way to visit some of the most pristine and spectacular places on earth, and we hear a lot about how flying is bad for the climate, right? Right. But what if I told you that even the most efficient cruise ships emit more carbon dioxide per passenger kilometer (CO2/pax-km) than a passenger jet? Link
“The Galapagos Islands is one of the major vulnerable global hotspots to environmental and climatic change” Link
That’s a really fair concern. I hope I get to go there someday, and I’m looking forward to doing it with an eye towards good ecological stewardship and responsibility. And not in a floating petri dish, I’m a straight up germaphobe
Animals are so much more chill when there are no predators. I took a vacation in Galapagos a few years back and most of the wildlife is like this, they just kind of stare at you for a second and go about their day.
Penguins do have predators in the leopard seals in the antarctic, but because they’re the only bipedal animals down there they seem to view people as kinda just big penguins. They seem more than happy to jump into boats with people if they think there’s a seal around or something.
And for their part, the seals also seem to view us as a curiosity or small seal. I know of at least one case where a seal tried to teach somebody how to hunt by bringing them fish and injured penguins like they would for a baby seal.
This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever read. Must’ve been incredible to experience firsthand!
11/10 recommend. We did a cruise that hopped between islands and I’ll never forget it. swimming with sea lions, hanging out with boobies (blue footed, nasca), really cool hawks, crabs, iguanas, and my favourite the frigate birds! They look like dinosaurs and have nearly a 6 foot wing span and will hover inches above your head near your boat, they’re so cool!
Maybe not 11/10 recommend
That’s a really fair concern. I hope I get to go there someday, and I’m looking forward to doing it with an eye towards good ecological stewardship and responsibility. And not in a floating petri dish, I’m a straight up germaphobe