PHOTOS: Experience the Galápagos Islands with KPRC 2 and the Houston Zoo through pictures
1 / 80
Galápagos Islands 2022Blue footed boobyA marine iguana in the middle of a wooden bridgeNazca booby in flightBlack necked stilt bird wades as a marine iguana swims byNazca boobyFlamingo in the Galápagos Islands 2022Marine iguanaLava heronMarine iguanaWhite tip reef sharksNazca BoobyGalápagos giant tortoises at a breeding center on the IslandsBlue footed boobyBirds perch in the trees near the fish marketLand iguanaGalápagos giant tortoiseMarine iguana swimming to shoreOne of the many finches that greet travelers arriving at the airport on Baltra IslandSanta Cruz, Galápagos Islands 2022Isabela, Galápagos Islands 2022The last of its kind giant tortoise known as "Lonesome George" has been preserved and can be viewed in a climate-controlled room. Sally lightfoot crabMarine iguanaGalápagos sea lion yawningBlue footed boobyGalápagos sea lionsTracking devices have been attached to many Galápagos giant tortoises in order to monitor their movementBlue footed boobyGalápagos giant tortoises at a breeding centerBlue and yellow bird spotted in a tree in EcuadorGalápagos giant tortoise in a pondGalápagos giant tortoisesGalápagos giant tortoiseGalápagos sea lion yawningGalápagos giant tortoiseGalápagos giant tortoises at a breeding center that will one day be released onto the island of FloreanaGalápagos giant tortoises at a breeding center that will one day be released onto the island of EspanolaBlue footed boobyBlue footed boobyNazca booby and blue footed booby Galápagos sea lion with her pup resting on a boat rampGalápagos giant tortoises in a pondBlue footed booby birdsGalápagos giant tortoises trying to display dominanceGalápagos giant tortoiseA lava lizard peeks over the back of a marine iguanaGalápagos giant tortoises in a pondGalápagos sea lionsMarine iguanaBird spotted on a table in EcuadorField producer Dawn Campbell gets footage of a sea lion that came onto land by our boatPhotograph from a drone ahead of a trek to track giant tortoisesGalápagos sea lionAnthony Yanez snorkelingOur Galápagos National Park naturalist guide plays the role of Charles Darwin at the Charles Darwin Research StationSpecimen room at the Charles Darwin Research StationSpecimen room at the Charles Darwin Research StationInterview on Isabela island for the 2023 "Saving the Galápagos Islands" special that will air on KPRC 2Dinner with the Houston Zoo team and Lady Marquez, a conservation partner for the ZooInterviews with teens involved in conservation for the 2023 "Saving the Galápagos Islands" special that will air on KPRC 2Interviews with teens involved in conservation for the 2023 "Saving the Galápagos Islands" special that will air on KPRC 2Senior veterinarian for the Houston Zoo Joe Flanagan talks to Anthony Yanez in the room that houses "Lonesome George" -- George was the last known Pinta Island giant tortoise. Dr. Joe was involved in George's care over the years."Lonesome George" -- George was the last known Pinta Island giant tortoise. Galápagos sea lions lounge in a lounge chair at the hotel where the KPRC 2 and Houston Zoo teams stayedGalápagos sea lions lounge in a lounge chair at the hotel where the KPRC 2 and Houston Zoo teams stayedAnthony Yanez on Tortuga Bay beachAnthony pictured with a young man who was part of a teen conservation program that's supported by the Houston Zoo. He now works for Galápagos National Parks.Behind the scenes of a shoot with teens working to protect giant tortoises near roadwaysTeens measure the distance between a giant tortoise and the roadKPRC 2 photojournalist Jeovany Luna in the Galápagos Islands 2022Anthony records a segment for the KPRC 2 special program "Saving the Galápagos Islands" which will air on KPRC 2 in AprilKPRC 2 photojournalist Jeovany Luna gets video of a giant tortoiseA briefing before we begin a trek to track giant tortoises in the highlands regionAnthony interviews Lady Marquez, a conservation partner the Houston Zoo supports in the Galápagos IslandsAnthony records lines for KPRC 2 television content at the Charles Darwin Research StationA team works to find and destroy invasive African snails that destroy crops on Santa Cruz islandA team works to find and destroy invasive African snails that destroy crops on Santa Cruz islandAnthony sits near a statue of a young Charles Darwin at the Charles Darwin Research StationAnthony holds a freshly caught lobster that was brought into the fish market
Ahead of the April 2023 opening, KPRC 2 meteorologist Anthony Yanez got to travel to the Islands with team members from the Houston Zoo to learn about the animals and to meet the people working to save them.
Recommended Videos
You can find links to Anthony’s daily posts with detailed information about the journey at the bottom of this article.
A slideshow of images from the trip is featured at the top. (If you have trouble viewing it on your device, click here.)
We also have shared some of our favorite social posts from the week below. Keep scrolling to see who Anthony had to compete with for pool time, the celebrity he ran into in Galápagos, and one of the most adorable videos Anthony captured on his phone.