South Georgia and the Falkland Islands

I had an amazing trip to the Southern Hemisphere, South Georgia and Falkland Islands. There were some superb photographers on this trip, and I learned much.

So. Georgia was devastated by whale and seal hunters in the early 1900s.  The ships brought rats which greatly diminished the bird populations.

In the last 20 yrs they have poisoned the rats without poisoning the other species, and it has been a successful environmental restoration. South Georgia and the Falklands have incredible biodiversity with hundreds of bird and mammal species.

 I wonder what would be restored in our society if we eliminated the King Rat.

No one lives in South Georgia, so all the money for restoration has come from elsewhere. Please enjoy attached images.

King Penguins Marching in front of Crashing Wave

King Penguins of Right Whale Bay, South Georgia Island, have just come ashore

King Penguin of Salisbury Instructs the Flock

King Penguin crosses creek and joins colony at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia Island

Giant Petrel Circles Island in front of Snowy Peak

A Giant Petrel is part of a snowy and foggy landscape, South Georgia Island

Elephant Seal Female Flips off the Photographer

Female Elephant Seal raises its flipper and opens mouth in a nonaggressive pose.