Rabida Island has a second name: Jervis Island. Jervis was an 18th century British admiral, a patron of Horatio Nelson, who sailed to the Americas on numerous occasions, though ironically enough not to the Galapagos.
Goats were introduced to the Galapagos - and to Rabida Island in particular - by colonists and they caused havoc with the local wildlife, leading to the extinction of native species of land iguana, gecko, and rice rat. In 1971 the National Park Service decided to eradicate the goat from Rabida, and slowly the ecosystem is recovering. It’s therefore a fascinating case study in how man can influence - for the worse and for the better - the sensitive ecological balance in these islands.
Rabida has a substantial population of bachelor sea lion, but the main attraction on the island is the birds. The flamingo are plentiful, and so too are the pelican, booby, and white cheeked pintail. Walking across the island and using binoculars, you can also spot nine different species of finch.
