Conservation Effort Gives Rare Seabird a Fighting Chance

Long-term conservation work is helping protect the critically endangered Galápagos petrel in Ecuador, slowing its decline and expanding efforts to safeguard vital breeding habitats.

“We want this to be an example of how, beyond organisations, real teamwork can lead to impactful results for protecting species,” said Paola Sangolquí, Marine Conservation Coordinator at Jocotoco and a 2026 Whitley Award recipient.

Conservationists have spent decades controlling invasive predators, restoring nesting areas and monitoring colonies across the Galápagos Islands, where the petrel breeds exclusively. The species is estimated to number between 15,000 and 20,000 individuals, and recent discoveries of new colonies have provided additional encouragement. Efforts are now expanding onto privately owned farmland, which hosts important nesting sites on some islands, creating partnerships that benefit both farmers and wildlife. Researchers are also working to establish shared monitoring methods across conservation groups to strengthen protection of the species and improve long-term recovery planning.