Some 5 million years ago and 1,000 kilometres off the South American Pacific coast the sea started to cook. Volcanoes sprang up from the sea. Lava, rock and ash were released in massive eruptions.

The volcanic islands were dead at first. However, as soon as the lava cooled down, the first colonists settled in the new habitat.

The wind brought many plant seeds to the archipelago from distant mainland. Spores of moss and fern and seeds of more developed plants were among the first arrivals.

Other colonists were brought by water to the volcanic islands. Sea lions and turtles conquered the distant island realm on their raids through the Pacific.
Many animal species such as sea lizards will have found their way on carriers like swimming trunks. Most plant species arrived at the archipelago as "stowaways" in the feathers of sea birds.

The population process took thousands of years. About every 10,000 years a new species managed to settle permanently on the islands.
In a geographical isolation, new subspecies developed from the colonists throughout the history and adapted to the specific life conditions on the archipelago.
This is an explanation why so many endemic animal and plant species were discovered on Galápagos. Some 50 per cent of all plants occurring here can be found only on these Pacific islands.

With the arrival of people, the population process accelerated. Seamen and colonists brought domestic animals to the islands.
Pigs, goats, dogs and donkeys ran wild and became part of the insular fauna. Other newcomers such as the house rat arrived rather by accident at the distant island.
What they all have in common is an influence on the original flora and fauna. The house rat is an expert in looking for turtle eggs whereas the goats and pigs have inflicted damage to crops, reducing the food offer for local species that cannot face the sudden evolutionary pressure.

Scientists have struggled for the preservation of the unique animal realm since the Charles Darwin Station on the Santa Cruz island was set up in 1962.
Protection and farming programmes should help preserve the endangered populations. The populations of endangered turtle species were stabilized this way.
Imported animal species like the red fire ant, dogs, rats and goats have been successfully subdued on the archipelago.

The population by people has continued, bringing other newcomers to the Pacific islands. Up to 50 new species are discovered every year.
This cannot be prevented in spite of public education and far-reaching protection measures. Therefore the struggle to preserve the original flora and fauna seems to us absolutely futile.