Unless further steps are taken to control ecotourism, Ecuador could stray from the road to sustainable and sound development. However, not all are in favor of government intervention. Galapaguenos are increasingly against further restrictive conservation regulations. Unfortunately, Gal pagos tortoises are still being exploited. 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.