The Galápagos Tapes

My new YouTube channel features 8mm video tapes recorded by Jim Young during the years we lived at the Charles Darwin Research Station on the Galápagos Islands in the early 1990s.

This turbulent period saw the rise of an unregulated sea cucumber (pepino de mar) fishery with illegal encampments in Galápagos National Park.

Ecuadorian and international response to these events spurred the Galápagos Marine Reserve declaration of 1998, which expanded the protected area and intensified management therein.

This historic footage was used in the BBC videos
“Galapagos: Paradise in Peril” and
“Lonesome George and the battle for Galapagos”

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Video of St. Marks NWR Fresnel lens removal

Previously I posted a gallery of images from the Fresnel lens removal at the historic St. Marks Refuge lighthouse. (see previous post)

On November 20, 2014 the Fresnel lens was removed from the historic St Marks Refuge lighthouse for the first time in 147 years for cleaning and preservation.

The lens was extracted from the lighthouse by the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association and staff and volunteers from the Saint Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Thanks to “Ring Power” for providing the “man lift”, personnel, and all their support on this project!

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