Born on Floreana island, to one of the first families to settle in Galapagos, Felipe was a passionate conservationist, driven to protect his home Islands for their unique biodiversity and for future generations.
Through his various roles at the Galapagos National Park and Charles Darwin Foundation, he played a significant role in some of the largest ecosystem restoration projects in Galapagos including Project Isabela, an eight year, multi-million– dollar programme to rid northern Isabela and Santiago islands of introduced goats. This project paved the way for ecosystem regeneration in Galapagos on an even greater scale – including the ambitious Restoring Floreana programme.
Floreana Restoration Programme
In March 2019 GCT held an event at Bridgewater House in London in memory of Felipe, which focussed on the fascinating history of Floreana and the work GCT is undertaking in order to restore Floreana and save threatened species. On the island, invasive mammals have contributed to 11 local extinctions and one global extinction. Fifty-five further species still found on Floreana are under threat, with their populations under pressure from introduced species. Several are now Critically Endangered on a global scale.
Our guests, including many friends of Felipe, pledged to support one of six species that will benefit from the Floreana programme and serve as good representatives of the project and why it is so important. These included the Floreana mockingbird, Galapagos racer snake, medium tree finch, little vermillion flycatcher, Galapagos petrel and the Floreana giant tortoise.
By donating, they are helping us continue work that meant so much to Felipe – restoring Floreana back to its former glory and saving species which are in urgent need of help. We are grateful to everyone who so generously donated and have listed them below.
In memory of Felipe Cruz – Roll of Honour
Alan Chapman – Floreana mockingbird
Audrey Simmons – Floreana mockingbird
Baroness Hooper – Medium tree finch
Carol Kemm – Little vermillion flycatcher
Charlotte Sundquist – Galapagos racer snake
Charmian Caines – Little vermillion flycatcher
Chris Waddel – Galapagos racer snake
David Horwell – Medium tree finch
Deborah Leng – Galapagos petrel
Dr Anthony Greenway
Dr Mark Collins and Family – Little vermillion flycatcher
Edward & Sally Benthall – Galapagos petrel
George Seligman – Medium tree finch
Gill Wilson – Little vermillion flycatcher
Hauxton Bird Group – Little vermillion flycatcher
Irene and Graham Francis – Galapagos racer snake
Jane Tozer – Medium tree finch
Jenn Stone – Little vermillion flycatcher
Judith Farrar – Floreana mockingbird
Karen Hunneyball – Floreana mockingbird
Kirsty Wilson – Galapagos petrel
Lord and Lady Phillimore – Floreana mockingbird
Mark and Sophie Lewisohn – Galapagos petrel
Michael Drake – Little vermillion flycatcher
Nicholas Moll – Floreana mockingbird
Oliver Graham – Medium tree finch
Pam Moore – Floreana giant tortoise
Penelope Eve – Floreana mockingbird
Raechel and Liam Hope – Floreana giant tortoise
Rebecca Nesbit and Philip Gould – Galapagos racer snake
Stephen and Judy Cockburn – Floreana giant tortoise
Toni Darton – Galapagos petrel
Varshika Manji – Floreana giant tortoise
Vivienne S. Lewis – Floreana giant tortoise
Latin Routes – Medium tree finch
Metropolitan Touring
Setours – Floreana giant tortoise and Galapagos petrel
Think Galapagos – Floreana mockingbird
Wanderlust Magazine