A tall ship recreating Charles Darwin's historic journey to the southern hemisphere has arrived in the Galapagos Islands.
The tall ship Oosterschelde set sail from Plymouth, Devon, in 2023.
Dr. Sarah Darwin, Darwin’s great-great granddaughter, joined the ship's crew along with a team of 200 international young environmentalists.
On Boxing Day in 1831, Darwin embarked on HMS Beagle from Plymouth, beginning a voyage that culminated in his theory of natural selection.
Dr. Darwin mentioned that if her great-great grandfather were alive today, "he'd love to be diving," as "the marine life around the Galapagos Islands is well protected and absolutely beautiful."
All the islands are safeguarded as part of Ecuador's Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve.
The crew will now study Galapagos tomatoes, the impact of invasive frogs, and the evolution of scavenging beetles.
The islands are home to many endemic species, which were originally studied by Darwin.
Stewart McPherson, co-founder and project leader, remarked: "Darwin was keenly aware of human impact, but I think he would be astonished by the extent of the impact we've had on our beautiful planet."
