7 ‘Galapagos Islands’ from around the world
Seven places that have become synonymous with exceptional biodiversity and high rates of endemism, just like the real Galapagos Islands
Frog in a pitcher plant (Shutterstock.com)
1. Sibuyan Island – The Galapagos of Asia
Where:
Romblon Province, The Philippines, just north of Panay Island
Why:
During all its geological history, Sibuyan Island has never been connected with any part of the Philippine archipelago.
What you’ll find
Sibuyan is known for its unique intact chain of ecosystems and endemic flora and fauna. In one study, the Philippine’s National Museum identified 1,551 trees in a single hectare, with 123 species of trees, 54 of which are found nowhere else in the world.
There are over 700 vascular plant species on the island, as well as 131 species of birds, ten species of fruit bats and a host of mammals, reptiles, and rodents yet to be catalogued.
Dragon’s Blood trees (Shutterstock.com)
2. Socotra Island – The Galapagos of the Indian Ocean
Where:
Part of a Yemeni archipelago in the Indian Ocean, opposite the horn of Africa
Why:
Socotra is one of the most-isolated landforms on Earth of non-volcanic origin, having broken off from Gondwana sometime during the Miocene period.
What you’ll find
A third of the plant life on Socotra cannot be found anywhere else on earth and include Dragon’s Blood trees that look like flying saucers hovering over tree trunks, and Adenium socotranum that look like elephants’ legs with pink flowers between their toes. Keep an eye out for the island’s unique birds such as the Socotra starling, Socotra sunbird, and Socotra grosbeak.
A kangaroo on an island (Shutterstock.com)
3. Kangaroo Island – The Galapagos of Australia
Where:
A choppy ferry ride from Cape Jervis, just south of Adelaide in South Australia
Why:
Rising sea levels 10,000 years ago separated the island from the mainland
What you’ll find
60,000 kangaroos, twice as many wallabies and more sea lions than you can point a stick at. There are also echidnas and platypuses, bandicoots and possums, goannas and snakes, penguins and pelicans, many of which have evolved into distinct species and sub-species after rising sea levels left the island adrift from the continent.
Usambara Mountains (Shutterstock.com)
4. Usambara Mountains – The Galapagos of Africa
Where:
North East Tanzania
Why:
Part of a chain of ancient mountains, with a unique climate that is cooler and wetter than the surrounding areas
What you will find
The Usambara mountains are home to an exceptional assortment of plants and animals, boasting one of the highest degrees of biodiversity on the African continent. The mountains are home to over 2,000 plant species, 25% of which are unique to the area. There is a high level of endemic molluscs, amphibians and reptiles.
It is also the natural home of the African Violet, a popular indoor plant that can still be found growing wild here.
Green turtle laying eggs (Shutterstock.com)
5. Fernando de Noronha – The Galapagos of Brazil
Where:
An atoll off the Atlantic coast of Brazil
Why:
Its remoteness, small human population and limited tourism
What you’ll find
The island is home to the largest bird breeding colonies of all the islands of the Tropical South Atlantic and supports large populations of migratory and resident birds. It is also the second largest nesting area in Brazil for green turtles.
Puffins on Skomer Island (Shutterstock.com)
6. Skomer – The Galapagos of Europe
Where:
Less than a mile off the Pembrokeshire Coast in Wales
Why:
A marine conservation area where human activity is restricted and the effect on wildlife is carefully monitored.
What you’ll find
Birds rule the roost on Skomer. 6,000 breeding pairs of puffins call the island home, as do 316,000 breeding pairs of Manx shearwaters, the largest known concentration of the species in the world. You’ll also find Atlantic seals, fulmar, chough, bluebells, campion, sea slugs, porpoise, dolphin and sun fish too.
Bald Eagles on Graham Island (Shutterstock.com)
7. Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)– The Galapagos of the North
Where:
British Columbia, Canada
Why:
Retreating glaciers during the last Ice Age cut the islands off from the North American mainland, leaving the flora and fauna to evolve in unique ways
What you will find
Thirty-nine subspecies of endemic plants and animals, including unique varieties of moss, fish, and the Haida Gwaii bear. Left to evolve in an environment where small mammals were rare, this subspecies tucked into shellfish instead, developing into the biggest black bear on the planet, with giant jaws perfectly adapted to cracking open mussels and clams.
Main image: Adenium socotranum on Socotra Island (Shutterstock.com)
