Volcanic eruption takes toll on Galapagos wildlife

Aerial handout photo released by the Galapagos National Park (PNG) on April 12, 2009 of the eruption of the La Cumbre volcano in Fernandina island, Galapagos, Ecuador. A volcanic eruption over the weekend has taken a toll on the wildlife of the ecologically-fragile Galapagos Islands, causing the deaths of numerous fish and various sea lions, said officials on Thursday.

A volcanic eruption over the weekend has taken a toll on the wildlife of the ecologically-fragile Galapagos Islands, causing the deaths of numerous fish and various sea lions, said officials on Thursday.

Dead wildlife was spotted in the Pacific Ocean waters off the famed island chain not long after the eruption Saturday of the La Cumbre volcano, officials at the nature preserve said.

Officials said a lava flow 10-meters (some 30-feet) wide poured into the Pacific Ocean waters after the eruption.

Saturday's eruption by the 1,500-meter- (4,500-foot-) tall La Cumbre was the first in four years, officials said.

Authorities stressed that the eruption was part of the Galapagos' ecosystem and said they were not inclined to intervene, other than to "monitor and document the changes" on the flora and fauna of the archipelago.

via Volcanic eruption takes toll on Galapagos wildlife.