The Galapagos Islands lie in the path of El Niņo currents in the eastern Pacific. The 1982-83 El Niņo had profound effects on the wildlife of the island, and hence on the islands' tourist industry. As the warm El Niņo currents reduced plankton productivity, many marine creatures starved, as did the land animals and birds which fed on them. A marine biologist stationed on the Galapagos commented, "Stories of marine iguanas dying at visitors' feet, of fewer or no sea birds along park trails, and starving fur seals circulated in the travel business. The problem was, the stories were true."

Nine times as much rain fell as normal. The normally arid Galapagos Islands were transformed into lush tropical and were often interrupted by rushing rivers. The floor of several volcanic craters became giant cisterns of fresh water.

El Niņo has hurt many wild animals in the Pacific.
Image coutesy RE Media.

Waved albatrosses, which breed almost exclusively on the Galapagos islands, failed to hatch any eggs in 1983. Rain had encouraged a thick coast of vegetation to cover their normal nesting grounds, and their fish diet was in short supply. Fortunately one good reproductive year can make up for disastrous years like 1983.

The same is not true of seals and sea lions. During 1983, food shortages resulted in the death of almost all seals and sea lions under five years old, and of about 30% of the adult sea population.

Blue-footed booby birds also apparently vanished from the Galapagos, although once the sea temperatures began to fall, some returned to their previous haunts.

Food shortages also affected the marine iguanas that normally feed on leafy algae along the inter-tidal zones. During the EL Niņo these algae were replaced by a different, less nutritious type of algae. Many iguanas starved and nearly 90% of the 1982 iguana hatchlings died.