13 Feb 2013

Macquarie Regenerates

We are now at Macquarie Island, which a great Australian Polar Explorer described as "one of the wonder spots of the world", sheltering in the lee of the island as we make preparations for our run to the Ross Sea. Ice conditions have changed quite dramatically since we were here about 2 weeks ago and it looks like we should have a good run south.

Soon after its discovery in 1810, sealers and other visitors introduced (both accidentally and intentionally) cats, rats, mice, wekas and rabbits to this beautiful Subantarctic outpost. The Wekas died out many years ago and rangers successfully hunted down the last cats in the 90's. Then in a massive and very ambitious programme, which was many years in the planning, they eradicated the remaining rats, mice and rabbits in 2010.

It is wonderfull to see the vegetation recovering and bird numbers increasing as the island regenerates. It will be a real pleasure to come here again in a few years and witness positive evolution after 200 years of predation and grazing. My hope is that other countries and conservation agencies will be inspired by this story and realise that nothing is impossible if you put your mind and money into it.