Fritts, Thomas H.

English

Aquatic Commons

Noticias de Galápagos, No. 46, May 1988
RECOGNIZING FAMILIAR FACES
By: Thomas H. Fritts
The Galápagos community includes many dedicated
people whose commitment to conservation, research,
and the quality of life in the Archipelago contributes
significantly to the programs of the Galápagos National
Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station.
As a means of recognizing the contributions of a few of
these people, Noticias de Galápagos will periodically
include brief profiles of people (some with familiar
faces) who have given much and continue to give to
Galápagos. This is our way of saying thank you to
these people and to the many other dedicated
employees of the Park and Station. The dedication,
experience, and creativity of employees like those
described below are the keys to continued success in
the conservation and management of the Galápagos.
Fausto Llerena S. excavating a tortoise nest deposited
by a female in captivity. Fausto Llerena S. excavando
el nido de un galapágo en cautiverio.
FAUSTO LLERENA SANCHEZ
Park Warden, Galápagos Natlonal Park
Service
Fausto Llerena was born on the mainland of
Ecuador, but he and his family moved to the highlands
of Santa Cruz in Galápagos when Fausto was a young
boy. He has worked as a warden with the Park
Service since 1971 when the National Park Service
was first organized under the Ministry of Agriculture.
At present, Fausto works behind the scenes for the
Park on Santa Cruz in a position of major importance
to the success of the conservation programs. The
11
captive reproduction and rearing programs for land
iguanas and giant tortoises ¡nvolve endless monitoring,
problem solving, and record keeping. Fausto first
worked with the iguana program, but for several
years has been supervising the tortoise program,
handling both the paperwork and the maintenance of
nesting females, incubating eggs, and growing
tortoises. People needing information on the status of
the reptil e breeding program frequently seek out
Fausto in his crowded office near the pens where the
young tortoises from five islands are reared.
Fausto was one of several early Park wardens who
endured difficult field conditions in exploring the
fledgling National Park, censusing the native animals,
and initiating control of introduced mammals.
In October 1987, Fausto's field experience was
again called into play when he assisted five other Park
wardens in an intensive tortoise census on the island
of Pinzón. The census was a resounding success.
Forty-five tortoise nests were found, and al!
participants agreed that it was Don Fausto who
recognized the best nesting areas, found the most
nests, and ensured the success of the trip.
Fausto is also well known and admired for his
talents as a wood carver. His carvings of both
saddleback and domed tortoises are so distinctive that
they are recognizable thousands of miles from
Galápagos. He occasionally, by special request,
carves other animals ranging from penquins to land
iguanas, but his tortoises are particularly prized by
Galápagos residents and visitors alike. As a person
who has lived near tortoises since his early childhood,
and as a warden who has worked with them in the field
and in captivity, Fausto is uniquely suited to
conceptualize a tortoise and to turn a block of wood
into a work of arto
LUIS RAMOS VELOZ
Chlef Purchasing Agent, Charles Darwln
Research Statlon
Luis Ramos (respectfully and affectionately known
to nearly everyone as Don Ramos) has worked for the
Charles Darwin Research Station since November
1971. For many years he has served as the principal
person responsible for purchasing food, supplies,
equipment, and other miscellaneous items needed from
local suppliers. He also receives al! purchases
arriving by cargo ship from the mainland.
In times past, when motor vehicles were less
reliable and less available, it was Don Ramos in his
indispensable panga (skiff) who ferried scientists,
supplies, and equipment from the Station to the boats
anchored in Academy Bay waiting to carry them to
their research sites on outlying islands. He was
always there to pick them up on their return and take
them back to the Station. He has made countless trips
12
by panga through the narrow channel from town across
Academy Bay to the Station with materials arriving on
supply ships from the continen1. When drinking water
was in short supply, he provisioned the Station with
fresh water acquired from supply ships.
J
r- m--
L-
Luis Ramos V. in his mobile office. Luis Ramos V. en su
oficina móvil.
But, as roads improved and the Station grew, Don
Ramos began to use Station vehicles to complete his
daily rounds for purchases, deliveries, and errands.
No matter how busy he is, Ramos always seems to find
time to provide a ride for someone needing to go to
town or to offer his advice on where something can be
most conveniently purchased. Everyone, from Station
employees to visiting scientists, has benefited from
his ability to find those items in short supply, buy
them at a reasonable price, and even secure credit in
times when cash is unavailable.
Don Ramos' creativity also evidences itself in his
personal hobby of sewing. When zippers, cloth, and a
need exist, he skillfully. fabricates a variety of field
and camping equipment including daypacks and tents.
He has successfully duplicated the quality of
professionally-made equipment and incorporated
modifications specifically useful to Galápagos
situations. "Hecho por Ramos" (Made by Ramos) may
not be a world-famous designer label, but it is one
greatly appreciated by people in Galápagos who have a
variety of needs ranging from equipment for the field,
puppets for environmental education programs, or
upholstry for a vehicle.
Noticias de Galápagos, No. 46, May 1988
RECONOCIENDO CARAS FAMILIARES
Por: Thomas H. Fritts
La comunidad de las Islas Galápagos incluye mucha
gente dedicada comprometida a la conservación, la
investigación, y la calidad de vida en el Archipiélago
quienes contribuye grandemente a los programas del
Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos y de la Estación
Científica Charles Darwin. Como una manera de
reconocimiento a las contribuciones de algunas de
estas personas, Noticias de Galápagos incluirá
periodicamente breves representaciones de personas
(algunas con caras familiares) quienes se han dedicado
y continuarán dedicando para el bien de las Galápagos.
Esta es una manera de dar gracias a esta gente y a
muchos otros empleados del Parque y de la Estación.
La dedicación, experiencia, y creatividad de empleados
como estos descritos más abajo son los factores
determinantes del éxito continuo en la conservación y
manejo de las Galápagos.
FAUSTO LLERENA SANCHEZ
Guardaparque, Servicio Parque Nacional
Galápagos
Fausto Llerena nació en la tierra continental del
Ecuador, pero su familia mudó a la parta alta de Isla
Santa Cruz en Galápagos cuando Fausto fue muy joven.
El ha trabajado como un guardaparque con el Servicio
Parque Nacional Galápagos desde el año 1971 cuando el
Servicio estuvo organizado dentro del Ministerio de
Agricultura.
Actualmente Fausto se encuentra trabajando para
el Parque en Santa Cruz en una posición de gran
importancia para el éxito de los programas de
conservación. Los programas de reproducción y
crianza en cautiverio de iguanas de tierra y tortugas
gigantes consiste en un interminable monitoreo y
solución de problemas. Fausto trabajó primeramente
con iguanas, pero en los últimos años ha estado
supervisando el programa de tortugas, balanceando el
trabajo de control de datos y la vigilancia de hembras
con nidos, huevos baja incubación, y las pequeñas
tortugas. Las personas con necesidades de información
sobre el programa de la reproducción de reptiles
frecuentemente buscan a Fausto quien se encuentra en
medio de su oficina estrecha cerca de las jaulas donde
se crian tortugas jovenes procedentes de cinco islas.
Fausto fue uno de los primeros guardaparques
quienes sobrellevó las difíciles condiciones del campo
explorando el naciente Parque Nacional, censando los
animales nativos e iniciando el control de los
mamíferos introducidos.


Recognizing familiar faces: Fausto Llerena Sanchez and Luis Ramos Veloz

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Recognizing familiar faces: Fausto Llerena Sanchez and Luis Ramos Veloz

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