Thomas Martin McShane, Island Opportunists (DOCO 2026)

South Plaza Island in the Galápagos supports one of the densest populations of Galápagos giant land iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus). These reptiles are primarily herbivorous, feeding largely on Opuntia cactus pads, fruit, flowers and leaves across the island’s volcanic landscape. During a visit to South Plaza I observed an unexpected, somewhat rare, interaction along the rocky shoreline. A land iguana was scavenging the carcass of a dead Galápagos sea lion pup among the coastal rocks. Nearby, newborn sea lions were navigating the same terrain within minutes of birth, calling for their mother. Across the island where seasonal vegetation creates a striking colour variation, conservation efforts include protecting newly established cactus to support the long-term availability of a key food source, further reflecting the delicate balance between species in this small ecosystem. Together these photographs document overlapping moments of adaptation, vulnerability and opportunism within the fragile ecological dynamics of the Galápagos.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.