To Aidan

26 Pages·2005·0.35 MB·English

The Adventures
of
Kaluwara Koala
the
Galapagos Islands
in the

Written by Allison Chase Sutherland
Illustrated by Sun Woo Jeong
The Adventures of Kaluwara the Koala
in the Galapagos Islands

Copyright © 2006 by Allison Chase Sutherland

Washington, DC

Summary: Kaluwara the Koala and Kokowara the Kookaburra embark on an adventure of discovery from the
eucalyptus forests of Australia to encounter the endangered species of the Galapagos Islands before it’s too late,
and teach the children of the Earth how to protect them. Note: Included with the story is a letter from Kaluwara
to the children of the Earth, a list of tips to help children protect the environment, and a glossary of English,
Spanish, and science terminology.

First Edition

Printed in USA
To Aidan & Marcelo,

my favorite albatrosses

and my greatest loves!!

Thanks to everyone at the Galapagos Conservancy,
for reviewing my manuscript,
and continuing the important work of protecting
the endangered species of the Galapagos.
Contents

I Francisco the Finch………………………………………….1

II Lolita the Lava Lizard………………………………………..5

III Allie the Albatross – Air Galapagos………………………...8

IV Kokowara the Kookaburra ………………………………...13

V Florentina the Flamingo………….………………………...16

VI Rebecca the Red-footed Booby Bird…………….…………21

VII Aprilita, Alberto, Aidan & Arcelino the Albatrosses….….25

VIII Tortuga the Tortoise……………………………..…….…..29

IX Tortina the Tortoise…….……………………………….…31

X Iggy the Iguana………………………………………..……36

XI Big Tyler the Tortoise & Little Tyler the Tortoise……….…41

XII Pedro the Penguin……………………………………….…45

Letter from Kaluwara……...…………………………….…50

Kaluwara’s 10 Tips to Help Protect the Environment……....51

Photographs of the Author & Illustrator…………….….....53

Note from the Author……………….………………....….54

Glossary - English, Spanish & Science Vocabulary…......…55

ONE

Francisco the Finch

A
strong wind blew the sturdy wooden outrigger Intrepid
across the gentle blue Pacific, straight on course to the enchanted
islands just emerging from the sea in the distance. The islands were
mysterious and exotic, full of intriguing and unusual creatures.
These were the Galapagos Islands, and many rare and unique
species evolved here as nowhere else on earth.

Kaluwara the Koala had set sail for these curious islands way
across the vast, blue Pacific Ocean from the coast of Kewarra, in
Australia. She had long dreamed of visiting the distant shores of the
Galapagos Islands, six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador in
South America, and would soon set paw on the islands she had read
so much about from atop her favorite eucalyptus tree back home in
the temperate forests of Kuranda in Northeastern Queensland.

Soon she would meet the famous tortoises after whom the
Galapagos Islands were named. She could hardly wait these
precious last moments. She had come so far, and now the islands,
resting peacefully before her in the Pacific, were actually in sight!

The sun bore steadily down on the islands as the little
wooden outrigger finally reached the remote shores of Santa Cruz.
Swallow-tailed gulls flew overhead as a welcome to the outrigger
and its curious captain, as orange-billed oystercatchers darted along
the lava rocks at the edge of the shore, and a great colony of
Darwin’s finches rested on a high rock, watching curiously to see
who might emerge from the little outrigger to visit their isolated
habitat in the Galapagos.
- 1 -
“What on earth is that peculiar creature?” whispered one
finch to another as Kaluwara the Koala approached the island.

“It’s decidedly a very odd creature,” replied the other finch
in amazement. “I guess it’s not from these parts. Let’s hear what it
has to say,” proposed the finch as they flapped expectantly, falling
over one another to get closer.

Francisco the Finch flew down to greet the visitor just as
Kaluwara the Koala pulled her little outrigger ashore.

“G’day!” said Kaluwara the Koala gleefully.

“Hola, Señorita,” began a black finch in his most
distinguished voice. “Welcome to our island, or as we say here in
the Galapagos, bienvenida.”

“I’m Kaluwara the Koala, and I’ve traveled a great distance
across the seas, from Australia, way down under, and I have come to
discover the wonders of your sunny archipelago and visit its many
remarkable creatures, and, uh…if I may… I am curious to meet for
myself one of the famous Galapagos Tortoises,” continued Kaluwara
eagerly.

“Well, you’ve come a very long way indeed, and you’ve
come to the right place!” declared Francisco the Finch, and the
other birds squawked in unison. “You know, if it weren’t for the
famous naturalist Charles Darwin, you may never have heard of a
Galapagos Tortoise, or of us Darwin’s finches for that matter,” he
noted, the other finches nodding in agreement. “In fact, I know just
the place. Follow me,” beckoned the black bird as he suddenly took
flight. Startled, Kaluwara the Koala jumped up and hurriedly
scurried after him. Thus began her adventures in the Galapagos
Islands.

- 2 -
The other Darwin’s finches flapped their wings farewell,
squawking all the way, until Kaluwara could hear them no longer.
“Adios, adios, adios!”

“Adios, everyone!” exclaimed Kaluwara, glancing quickly
backwards.

Francisco the Finch flapped away over the grey boulders,
and Kaluwara the Koala could barely keep up with the swift bird.
She stumbled along, trying to keep up with the pace of the fleeting
finch, but Francisco in his excitement was getting further and
further away every second.

Kaluwara continued on diligently after Francisco, who was
heading at great speed toward the tropical forest. And just as
Kaluwara entered the forest, all out of breath, one of her tired paws
got snagged on a vine, and she landed with a thump. As she moved
her paw to untangle it, the vine seemed to move!
- 3 -