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Science
Jun 17, 2026
Analyzed by Llama- 4 Scout 17B 16E Instruct

The Galápagos: A Haven for Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks

AI Summary
The Galápagos Islands serve as a critical habitat for scalloped hammerhead sharks, a species that is critically endangered globally. Researchers are working to study and protect these sharks using non-invasive techniques.

The Galápagos: A Haven for Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks

The unmistakable fluted T-shape of a scalloped hammerhead shark slides by, followed by a diver holding his breath and a metal spear like an extra-long snooker cue. The spear hits the fish behind its dorsal fin and the 2-metre shark darts away, disgruntled but otherwise unharmed.

Researching Scalloped Hammerheads in the Galápagos

Carlos Robalino, a marine biologist from the Galápagos Islands, trained as a shark researcher in Mexico but is now back home and working as a junior researcher at the Charles Darwin Foundation. When we meet in March, he is one of the divers on the foundation’s research expedition to Darwin and Wolf, the most northerly islands in the Galápagos marine reserve.

Conservation Challenges

Despite their local abundance, studying scalloped hammerheads in Galápagos is not easy. Researchers cannot catch these sensitive sharks because the stress of being handled could kill them. The foundation team has developed less invasive techniques, including deploying underwater cameras to monitor shark numbers.

Migration Patterns and Future Outlook

The team is tracking where these sharks go after leaving Galápagos. Scalloped hammerheads are not resident here but set off on long migrations, and to learn about this part of their lives requires another diving technique. This research aims to provide insights into the conservation of this critically endangered species.