In 1978, the Galapagos Islands became the first site to enter the UN's World Heritage list. The UN described this surreal locale where flora and fauna persistently evolve as "an evolutionary showcase and a unique living museum." However, like anything fading toward extinction, the Galapagos could not be left alone to heal itself or, like an amphibian, regenerate what had already been destroyed.

These Ecuadorian isles peak out from the ocean surface, a cluster of 19 protrusions, a little over 100 kilometers from the continent of South America. Oversized animals, exotic plants, and undying tortoises are the figures that most commonly identify to the Galapagos archipelago. However, if current trend progresses, these mascots will be nothing more than a chapter in some sleepy high-schooler's Biology textbook; or, rather, a dusty entry on Wikipedia.

Most, if not all, of the Galapagos' misfortune can be traced back to human interference. The poaching of endangered animals and a rise in tourism has polluted the area and eliminated some of the essential players in its food chain.

There is still a little glint of hope, however; in response to the islands' faint pulse, Galapagos cruises and Galapagos tours have taken generous measures to clean up their operations, including less obtrusive interaction with the island. The decision to add the archipelago to the list came in response to Tuesday's decision to remove the African palaces and the Kathmandu Valley from the danger list; the palaces were originally added following the damage incurred from a tornado in 1985, and the Kathmandu Valley joined the World Heritage list in 1979 and was bumped to the danger list in 2003.

Deciding whether to take a Galapagos cruse or something more traditional should be met with confliction. Do you visit the islands for that once-in-a-lifetime experience; or do you resist—instead of playing witness to the Galapagos' last gasps for air, you, instead, avoid being part of the problem and become a role in the solution.
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Enid Glasgow is a travel writer who enjoys luxury Galapagos cruises with Big Five luxury travel.