Wolf Volcano on Isabela island in Galapagos is now erupting sending lava flows down to the homes of rare pink iguanas. (Photo : Parque Nacional Galapagos/Facebook)
A volcano located in the Galapagos Islands has now erupted in Ecuador during the early hours of Monday morning according to local officials that poses a grave threat to a rare species of pink iguanas.
Wolf volcano is estimated to be 1.7 kilometers high where it is situated on Isabela Island which is a highly diverse region when it comes to various ecosystems seen along the archipelago. This region also helped inspire Charles Darwin with his theory of evolution during his expedition in 1835.
According to the Galapagos National Park, the Wolf volcano is not near the vicinity of a populated area which does not pose as an immediate threat to humans however, the only threat would be to pink iguanas which makes this the only place in the world where they can be found.
The park revealed photos of lava fingers crawling their way down from the sides of the Wolf volcano which is also the highest point in the Galapagos. A dark, ash plume was emitted by the volcano some 10 kilometers high, surging overhead the region. The volcano has been inactive for the past 33 years according to park officials.
According to the Environment Ministry, lava is now flowing down towards the southern side where the iguanas inhabit the opposite side of the mountain. The iguanas are currently an endangered species where officials expect them to escape from their home to avoid harm.
However the Geophysics Institute warns that the lava flow might end up in the sea and harm marine life. The populated regions of the island might be safe from this eruption but the ash cloud can descend and reach communities.
Last April, some unusual seismic activity was recorded originating from the Sierra volcano found on the same Isabela island which is also the archipelago's biggest island, that is home to yellow iguanas and giant turtles.
Ecuador is also part of the Pacific Ring of Fire where Chile and other South American countries are located on this treacherous geological anomaly.
