Galapagos Sealion (Zalophus wollebaeki), North Seymour Island, GALAPAGOS ISLANDSCommon octopus (Octopus vulgaris), Floreana Island, GALAPAGOSYellow snapper (Lutjanus argentiventris) & Creole fish (Paranthias colonus), Devil’s Crown, GalapagosGreat Frigatebird (Fregata minor) female, North Seymour Island, Galapagos IslandsRed-footed booby (Sula sula), Tower Island, GALAPAGOSNazca booby (Sula granti), Tower Island, GALAPAGOSLava on Sullivan Bay, a recent (1897) pahoehoe lava flow, Sullivan Bay, Santiago, GalapagosGreen Turtle (Chelonia mydas agassisi), Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island, GalapagosGolden Cownose Rays (Rhinoptera steindachneri), Puerto Ayora harbour, Santa Cruz Island, GalapagosGalapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus), South Plaza Island, GALAPAGOSSpotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) aggregation, Santa Fe Island, GalapagosWaved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), Punta Suarez, EspaÒola Island, Galapagos. Critically threatenedSpotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari), Rabida Island, Galapagos. IUCN Red Data: near threatenedYellowtail Grunt (Anisotremus interruptus), Rabida Island, GalapagosGalapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantophus porteri), Highlands, Santa Cruz Island, GalapagosGalapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus), South Plaza Island, GALAPAGOS Galapagos Sealion (Zalophus wollebaeki), Santa Fe Island, GALAPAGOS ISLANDSGalapagos Sealions (Zalophus wollebaeki), Santa Fe Island, GalapagosSouthern diamond stingray (Dasyatis dipterura) feeding, Santa Fe Island, GalapagosWaved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) flight, Punta Suarez, EspaÒola Island, Galapagos. Critically threatenedGalapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantophus porteri), Highlands, Santa Cruz Island, GalapagosLand Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus), Baltra Island One of two endemic species of these large, yellow lizards found in the islands. Conolophus subcristatus lives on six of the islands. (Fernandina, Isabela, Santa Cruz, South Plaza, Baltra and Seymour) They are vegetarian and eat mostly Opuntia cactus. However it has been reported that they will eat carrion if available. The Land iguanas from Baltra were introduced onto North Seymour Island in the 1930’s and then subsequently became extinct on Baltra during the time the island was being used by the USA as a military base. They have been captive bred in the Charlse Darwin Station and re-introduced to Baltra. The reintroduction in 2008 was the last one as they have now sucessfully established themselves on the island.Galapagos Giant Tortoises (Geochelone elephantophus vandenburghi), Alcedo Volcano crater floor, Isabela Island, GALAPAGOS One of 11 sub-species surviving in the islands. This is an example of the dome-shaped sub-species. Alcedo hosts over half the 15,000 tortoises left in Galapagos. All tortoises were heavy hunted for food in the past. Dome-shaped males are double the size of the females. Males stay mainly in the highlands while females migrate towards the coast when they need to lay eggs.Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantophus vandenburghi) and fumaroles. Alcedo Volcano crater floor, Isabela IslandWaved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) Courtship, Punta Cevallos, EspaÒola Island, GALAPAGOS. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED However a few pairs nest on Isla de la Plata near the Ecuadorian mainland. +-12,000 pairs breed on the Island of EspaÒola in Galapagos. They only come ashore between April and December to breed, otherwise they spend their entire life at sea. Once an albatross chick fledges and goes to sea it will remain there until it is 4 years old before returning to land to breed for the first time. Albatross mate for life and live about 40 years. They form part of the family of tube-nosed birds.Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), Punta Cevallos, EspaÒola Island, GALAPAGOS. CRITICALLY ENDANGEREDWaved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) with egg. Punta Cevallos, EspaÒola Island, GALAPAGOS ISLANDSGalapagos Hawks (Buteo galapagoensis) Male brought in Lava Lizard (Microlophus albemarlensis) to female on the nest. There is a chick in the nest (unseen) which is why they are bringing food to the nest. James Island. GALAPAGOS. This is one of the world’s rarest raptors with around 800 individuals living around the islands. Although they are commonly seen they are a vulnerable species. TheY scavenge on dead carcasses as well as hunt iguanas, snakes, rats, birds etc.Lava Gull (Larus fuliginosus), Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island. GALAPAGOS. ENDEMIC TO GALAPAGOS ISLANDS & Rarest gull in the worldMina de Azufre (Sulphur fulmeroles) inside crater of Sierra Negr· Volcano (second largest volcanic crater in the world), Isabela Island, Galapagos.Galapagos Giant Tortoise resting & Lava Lizard. Geochelone elephantophus, Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Volcanic Eruption, Cabo Hammond, Fernandina Island, GalapagosAlcedo Volcano, GalapagosBlue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii excisa), Los Tuneles, Lava tunnels, Isabela Island, GALAPAGOSBlue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii excisa), Los Tuneles, Lava tunnels, Isabela Island, GALAPAGOS, Ecuador, South AmericaGalapagos Giant Tortoise (Geochelone sp.), Breeding center, Galapagos National Park, Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, GALAPAGOSGalapagos sealions (Zalophus wollebaeki), Gardner Bay, EspaÒola (Hood) Island. GalapagosStreamer Hogfish (Bodianus diplotaenia) or Mexican hogfish off of Wolf Island, GALAPAGOS RANGE & HABITAT: Abundant entire archipelago. Chile north to Baja including offshore islands. They inhabit rocky reefs, slopes and mixed areas of boulders and sand. Common between 15-65 feet. Juveniles may act as cleaners.Galapagos Shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis), Off of Wolf Island, GALAPAGOS. RANGE: Entire archipelago north to Baja including offshore islands.Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), Bartolome Island. This is the only penguin to nest entirely within the tropics and in the case of those living on the northern tip of Isabela Island, the only penguins found in the northern hemisphere. They are the third smallest penguin in the world. They live in lava tubes and natural caves and crevices. The females lay one or two eggs and can breed more than once a year if conditions are optimal.Golden (Mustard) Rays in a large school, Rhinoptera steindacheri, Isabela Island, GalapagosGalapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), Santa Cruz Island, GALAPAGOSGalapagos Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizi) underwater, GALAPAGOSMarine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) underwater, Fernandina Island, GALAPAGOSSally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus), GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, EcuadorRed-footed Booby (Sula sula websteri) juvenile, GALAPAGOSDiamond Stingray (Dasyatis brevis), GALAPAGOSDiamond Stingrays (Dasyatis brevis) fighting, GALAPAGOSGalapagos Sealion (Zalophus wollebaeki) underwater, GALAPAGOSLava Formations, Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island, GALAPAGOS Galapagos Sealion (Zalophus wollebaeki), Mother & new pup. RABIDA ISLAND, GALAPAGOS. There are approximately 16,000 individual sealions in the archipelago and numbers are increasing. Males are much larger than females, weighing up to 250kg compared with 100kg in the females. They spend a large amount of time hauled up on sandy beaches. The males establish territories which are savagely defended from rivals. Young bachelors and unsuccessful bulls then leave the area and establish bachelor colonies on the outskirts of female haul-outs. Reproduction occurs mainly in the Garua season between July and December and will vary from Island to Island. Sealions are highly thigmotactic (seeking body contact) and loaf around in piles on the beaches. They are extremely efficient hunters, preferring sardines to other fish, so spend a considerable time resting or at play. Underwater they are well streamlined, lithe and acrobatic.Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), GALAPAGOSYellowtailed Surgeonfish (Prionurus laticlavus), GALAPAGOSJuvenile Grunts (Haemulidae), Rabida, GalapagosWhite-Tipped Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) With Juvenile Grunts (Haemulidae), GalapagosGalapagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis), Urbina Bay, Isabela, GalapagosLand Iguana (conolphus subcristatus), Urbina Bay, Isabela, GalapagosPalo Santo (Bursera graveolens), Tagus Cove, Isabela, GalapagosMarine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) Feeding, Espinosa Point, Fernandina, GalapagosGreat Frigate Bird (Fregata minor ridgwayi) in Flight, North Seymour, GalapagosLos Gemelos (The Twins), Santa Cruz Highlands, GalapagosGalapagos Sea Lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) on Beach, Santa Fe, GALAPAGOSMarine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), Black Beach, Floreana Island, GalapagosGreater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), Punta Moreno, Isabela Island, GALAPAGOS Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) & Sally Lightfoot Crabs (Grapsus grapsus), Black Beach, Floreana Island, Galapagos
Galapagos Sealion (Zalophus wollebaeki), Mother & pup, South Plazas Island, GALAPAGOS
Pete Oxford – Photography
MY JOURNEY AS A CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER
I am fortunate to have worked in many of the world’s most pristine and remote wildlife and cultural destinations as a conservation photographer. Furthermore to have my images appear in most of the major magazines of the world in the field including National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Time, International Wildlife, Smithsonian, Geo, Nature’s Best, Terre Sauvage, Outdoor Photography, The Economist, Geographical, Ranger Rick and Airone as well as being featured ten times in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards. I have lived with my wife and partner Reneé Bish, as a resident of Ecuador for 31 and 24 years respectively. Together we have published thirteen books, mostly on Ecuadorian conservation themes. We work primarily on conservation related subjects in the hope that the power of the image will help further such efforts around the world. I was considered by Outdoor Photography magazine to be among the top 40 most influential nature photographers in the world and am a proud Founder Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and in 2009 I was selected as part of the Wild Wonders of Europe ‘Dream Team’. In 2014 I was awarded Ecuadorian Photo Journalist of the Year plus the IUCN Melvita grant. In 2015 I was named Ranger Rick Photographer of the Year, and won the IUCN/Terre Sauvage ‘Man in Nature’ photographic prize. I am a contributing photographer for the Annenberg Space for Photography and a Gitzo ambassador, a board member of the marine conservation-based magazine SevenSeas and work in partnership with the Orianne Society. In 2017 I was a judge for the prestigious Big Picture Competition run by the California Academy of Sciences. I am also a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.
Reneé and I are co-owners and operators of Pete Oxford Expeditions, leading responsible travel to some of the world’s richest cultures and most biodiverse and pristine areas of our planet.
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