Today, on World Albatross Day, we are thrilled to introduce you to Alberto the Waved Albatross, the third book in our series of Galapagos Journeys.
Communications Manager
To protect waved albatrosses, which are Critically Endangered and breed only in Galapagos, we need the support of global and local communities. Through the power of storytelling, we can inspire the next generation of wildlife ambassadors in Galapagos and worldwide.
We’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign to get our new storybook finished, printed and distributed across the Galapagos Archipelago. Thanks to the kind generosity of a funder, we have already received £2,500, but we still need to raise an additional £4,000 so that we can give at least 500 copies, free of charge, to educators across the Islands.
Phoebastria irrorata
The waved albatross has the largest wingspan in Galapagos, but these monogamous birds are under threat.
Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with Alberto the waved albatross as he returns to Española island from the great open ocean. Here he will be reunited with his partner Isabela and they, along with 12,000 other breeding pairs, will take on the challenge of rearing a new chick together while overcoming many obstacles, including industrial fishing and plastic pollution.
Aimed at 7-11 year-olds, with an English version starting from the front and an Ecuadorian Spanish version starting at the back, the book will inspire children on the Islands to connect with nature and the unique animals that they share their home with.
Following the success of our two other storybooks, Marti the Hammerhead Shark and Tessa the Giant Tortoise, we believe that Alberto and his family will inspire even more people to adopt environmentally conscious behaviours and become lifelong ambassadors for Galapagos.
With your help, in 2019, we launched our first storybook, Marti the Hammerhead Shark. Aimed at 7-11 year-olds, the book has been a huge success, having been shared with over 1,000 children in Galapagos.
In 2022, our Tessa the Giant Tortoise storybook was brought to life. Written for 5- to 8-year-olds, the book and its conservation messages have been extremely well received on the islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal, with 700 copies being provided to educators.
Tessa (the Giant Tortoise) is helping children to improve their reading and writing skills and think about ways they can change their behaviours based on the conservation topics discussed.
Proceeds from our crowdfunder will go towards an initial print run of at least 500 copies of the storybook in Ecuador and help cover the cost of printing, design and postage. Proceeds will also go towards developing teaching kits which will supplement the book with fun and interactive activities for children.
If we exceed the target of £4,000, the additional donations will help educators on the islands continue their work with Tessa and Marti storybooks. We also hope to fund the next group of girls in the Gills Club on San Cristobal and launch a similar club on Santa Cruz. The Gills Club aims to engage more girls in science.
To thank you for your donations, we have a variety of rewards for you to choose from:
