And although hunting tortoises is illegal, they are still killed. Unlicensed fishermen slaughter dozens of giant tortoises for food. Apparently, islanders believe if you rub a tortoise kidney on a woman's pregnant belly, the baby will be healthy . In 1994, a devastating fire broke out on Isabela Island which destroyed approximately 30 square miles of the tortoise sanctuary.15 A rescue team was prepared, which included members of the Ecuadorian Park Service, to carry the tortoises out by hand, because the rocky volcanic terrain of Isabela island is too rough for vehicles, if necessary. Conservationists blamed the fire on tourists.
Officials insist the blaze was started by a farmer burning garbage.
There have also been darker suggestions that the fire was started by islanders fed up with the government's bowing to environmental pressure to ban the fishing of shark, lobster and sea cucumber. The Ecuadorian government disagreed, attributing the fire to prolonged drought, changing winds, and high temperatures on the island. Tourists not only affect fauna and flora, but also take up residence on the islands and overtax the road and sanitary systems. Tensions between the Galapaguenos, fishermen, and conservationists have finally ensued in violence. The mob consisted of fisherman frustrated and angered because of a ban on seacucumber fishing and a reign of terror was unleashed by fishermen.