Sailors aboard HMS Protector, a Royal Navy icebreaker, are working to prevent the spread of avian influenza to penguin colonies in Antarctica.
This initiative comes amidst concerns that the virus could cause a significant ecological disaster if it reaches the remote penguin populations on the peninsula, according to a Royal Navy news release.
As HMS Protector undertakes its annual patrol of the Antarctic, the presence of avian influenza strains has been detected in the sub-Antarctic. HMS Forth collaborated with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to collect and analyse samples, confirming the disease’s presence in South Georgia.
Lieutenant Commander James Winsor, Protector’s First Lieutenant, explained the gravity of the situation, stating,
“Penguins are highly social birds. They gather in large colonies, often numbering in the thousands, to build nests and raise their chicks. One of the biggest threats to Antarctica’s unique wildlife since 2002 has been avian flu.”
Winsor detailed the preventative measures being taken, “HMS Protector has been taking steps to ensure that we don’t introduce or spread avian flu amongst the wildlife. We will check our kit, clean any seams and Velcro for small seeds or debris, hoover out any pockets to remove soil and anything that could contaminate the shore. We will check our boots, clean them and then put them in a biocide bath – similar to those used during the foot and mouth pandemics.”
Just stay away then ? 🤔
Ah c’mon Frank, someone’s gotta make those cute adverts 😉
I must admit I’m a very lucky person. I was based as a CSB op down south and where we were based (West Falklands) was a penguin colony about 10 Kms away. So naturally we visited. Absolutely amazing as you approached them. They would fleet past the boat and maneuver in unbelievable directions at breakneck speeds. They fish in echelon in staggered lines with one, then the other, followed by the rest jumping out of the water and diving back in again. Coming into land (and that is an apt statement) they would shoot towards the shore, shoot out like a… Read more »
A seal is like a pit bull of the sea.
Watched a Leopard Seal rip apart a sheep that had fallen off a low cliff in East Falkland. But I think the oddest memory is when we had a BBQ on the beach, down near Mare Harbour. A couple of lads were fishing, where one looked like he caught a whopper. Then we saw three fins approaching along the shore line. One of the Killer Whales caught the fish and threw it up in the air. Where the other two would do the same. It was like we got your fish and what are you going to do about it?… Read more »
Well if a war starts out I know which outfit I will be hiring. Should be safer as a penguin than a citizen😂😂
They should try protecting UK borders from the dinghy people first & foremost, or is that to much hard work??
Old a penguin operate a missile system, if they can there’s a real recruitment opportunity there not sure 5 I’d like to be in the same mess deck as a bunch of stinky noisy bunch of rock hoppers
What? A RN icebreaker should protect UK borders?
Protecting UK Borders is the job for Border Force – the clue is in the name!
I was obviously saying the RN should be protecting UK borders, as for Border Force , they couldn’t protect jack shit, the clue is the never ending invasion by the dinghy people of our shores!!
When I was in the Falklands in1982, we were given the opportunity to visit sea lion island where Over 200,000 penguins lived rock hoppers and king penguins. These are the kind of things should be.in our recruiting media.
I went to Sea Lion island when on tour in 1999. Great place. Remember fending off sea skuas with a very long stick.