Aitcho Islands
After a moderately rough Drake Passage crossing, today Endeavour sailed into the English Strait, between Robert and Greenwich Islands in the South Shetland archipelago. Conditions were ideal with sunny skies and little wind, and we made our first stop in Antarctica on the Aitcho Islands. Home to hundreds of breeding gentoo and chinstrap penguins, the Aitcho Islands also provide haul-out beaches for both elephant and Antarctic fur seals. Both were sighted, and pictured here is a relatively small adult fur seal grudgingly sharing the beach with a chinstrap penguin.
Chinstraps are the most pugnacious of the penguins we encounter, often attacking outright seals that stray anywhere near their nesting territories. Chinnies, as they are sometimes called, will also vigorously defend their personal space on the beach, charging the largest fur seal bull despite the size difference – male fur seals are nearly 50 times the size of the diminutive penguins!
First discovered in 1819, the South Shetland Islands teemed with fur seals. Having exploited the species to the brink of extinction on many sub-Antarctic islands in previous decades, sealers from New England and the UK were quick to capitalize on the discovery of new land at this latitude. By 1820, dozens of small sailing ships were outfitted in northern ports to make the perilous, but potentially fabulously profitable, voyages to this new land. The following summer over 60 ships were exploring the South Shetlands, harvesting fur seals with devastating effect. In only three years several million fur seal skins were taken from the South Shetlands, and the species was usually regarded as extinct up until the 1950’s, when small numbers were sighted off South Georgia. In the past 50 years they have recovered well at South Georgia, and are now finally breeding here in the Shetlands in modest numbers.
The male pictured here is probably several years old, and may attempt to breed next season. He will come ashore at a rookery next October, challenging larger more established males for a territory and some females. If strong and lucky he may be able to best one of the older bulls, and spend a short hectic life as a breeding male; usually so-called ‘beach masters’ only have one or two seasons of breeding success, as their life is one of ceaseless fighting with neighbors while staying ashore, fasting and defending territory for three months at a time.
We’ve spent a glorious afternoon in the South Shetlands, made all the more special by the sight of an animal once so persecuted, but now protected and making a comeback in the last great wilderness on earth.
After a moderately rough Drake Passage crossing, today Endeavour sailed into the English Strait, between Robert and Greenwich Islands in the South Shetland archipelago. Conditions were ideal with sunny skies and little wind, and we made our first stop in Antarctica on the Aitcho Islands. Home to hundreds of breeding gentoo and chinstrap penguins, the Aitcho Islands also provide haul-out beaches for both elephant and Antarctic fur seals. Both were sighted, and pictured here is a relatively small adult fur seal grudgingly sharing the beach with a chinstrap penguin.
Chinstraps are the most pugnacious of the penguins we encounter, often attacking outright seals that stray anywhere near their nesting territories. Chinnies, as they are sometimes called, will also vigorously defend their personal space on the beach, charging the largest fur seal bull despite the size difference – male fur seals are nearly 50 times the size of the diminutive penguins!
First discovered in 1819, the South Shetland Islands teemed with fur seals. Having exploited the species to the brink of extinction on many sub-Antarctic islands in previous decades, sealers from New England and the UK were quick to capitalize on the discovery of new land at this latitude. By 1820, dozens of small sailing ships were outfitted in northern ports to make the perilous, but potentially fabulously profitable, voyages to this new land. The following summer over 60 ships were exploring the South Shetlands, harvesting fur seals with devastating effect. In only three years several million fur seal skins were taken from the South Shetlands, and the species was usually regarded as extinct up until the 1950’s, when small numbers were sighted off South Georgia. In the past 50 years they have recovered well at South Georgia, and are now finally breeding here in the Shetlands in modest numbers.
The male pictured here is probably several years old, and may attempt to breed next season. He will come ashore at a rookery next October, challenging larger more established males for a territory and some females. If strong and lucky he may be able to best one of the older bulls, and spend a short hectic life as a breeding male; usually so-called ‘beach masters’ only have one or two seasons of breeding success, as their life is one of ceaseless fighting with neighbors while staying ashore, fasting and defending territory for three months at a time.
We’ve spent a glorious afternoon in the South Shetlands, made all the more special by the sight of an animal once so persecuted, but now protected and making a comeback in the last great wilderness on earth.
