Now the bad news. Last November, after the release, bands of marauding fishermen attacked park buildings, torched vehicles, threatened to kill park personnel and stole captive-bred giant tortoises. The dispute was about fishing quotas. The fishermen, many from Ecuador's mainland, were bullying for greater access to lobsters and other marine resources. Surprisingly, park officials got little support from the government.
History is full of similar stories of the abuse of priceless natural resources.
But there are also many tales of hope in the wake of past excesses. Maybe in this tale of resurrection there are lessons for Ecuador. And maybe students, who are humankind's hope for the future, will get a more responsive ear. The Editors Copyright 2001 National Wildlife Federation. All rights reserved.