The Galápagos Islands, or the “Enchanted” islands, as its better known, has had a huge influence in the science community. The first written theory of evolution was completed by Charles Darwin in his expedition to the islands on the Beagle ship. When the English naturalist arrived in the Galápagos, he noticed that there was unique wildlife that he had not seen before in other countries, and it was exceptionally intriguing because the islands are far from the continent. He was fascinated with the various finches on each island, which had different beak sizes and he determined were used for different feeding purposes. He sent a sample of each of these species back to England. Upon his arrival, English scientists confirmed that all of these species had a common genetic origen. However, each species adapted to different biological conditions on each island in order to survive. This discovery led Darwin to conclude that life has evolved and changed over millennia. When I first stepped
In Latin America, fifteen is the coming-of-age celebration for young women, similar to the sweet sixteen celebrations in the United States. When I turned fifteen, my parents gave me a choice between having a birthday party or taking a trip. Without a second thought, I chose a trip to Kenya to see the annual wildlife migration in the Serengeti's great plains, the elephants in front of the Kilimanjaro, and the crocodiles eating wildebeest while crossing the Mara River. These experiences opened my eyes to how the circle of life works. Nature does not waste anything. The Masai people also showed me how wisely they use the scarce resources around them. Less than half a century ago, Kenya was a very popular hunting spot among wealthy people from Europe and the United States who were seeking to kill "The Big Five." These included elephants, lions, rhinoceros, buffaloes, and leopards because of they supposedly posed a threat to the hunters's lives. Luckily, times have c