Galapagos v. Madagascar

[Martin Hash]

DSCN0590.JPG

Of the two great environmental cause celebs in the world, the Galapagos Islands and Madagascar, which is the best intellectual pilgrimage? Having visited Madagascar first, I was sure nothing could compare, regardless of the aura surrounding Galapagos, but the Galapagos Islands held a mystical enticement because they represented my childhood science verses religion conflict - an Evolutionist’s version of Mecca, and the Creationist’s heresy.

Both Madagascar and Galapagos have terrestrial isolation but Madagascar is much larger in land area so, of course, has more endemic species and biodiversity than the Galapagos, but the Galapagos is a larger marine environment. However, visiting a marine reserve does require snorkeling for extended periods of time in cold water, and colonies of sea lions, reptiles, and large exotic birds deposit an inordinate amount of pungent excrement. Truthfully, however, in deciding which of the world’s two great conservation science destinations is best, it all comes down to the fact that a soft, fuzzy lemur has a higher cuddle factor than a skin-shedding marine iguana… Though Blue-footed Boobies are clumsily engaging and provocatively named.