Published: 00:08 Sunday 22 April
2018
Rare and unique seabirds are
flocking to one of the UK’s most remote overseas territories now Scottish
conservationists have concluded the world’s biggest ever rat extermination
project. Captain Cook discovered South Georgia in 1775 and claimed it for
Britain.
Polar explorer Sir Ernest
Shackleton hiked over its mountainous terrain to get help for his crew, who
were stranded on an island 800 miles away during an expedition in 1916. He was
eventually buried on South Georgia after dying there on a later mission.
The sub-Antarctic island has no
native land animals, but is a hotspot for marine life, penguins and globally
important seabirds. However, the impact of human visitors has taken a terrible
toll. Brown rats first arrived in the late 18th century aboard sealing ships,
and South Georgia was soon over-run with the rodents in the absence of any
natural predators. 6 of the best cities for a beach holiday Ever felt torn
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world's best beachy cities, according to global travellers. Promoted by
Booking.com Their presence had a devastating impact on seabirds nesting there.
Two endemic species, the South
Georgia pipit and pintail duck, were driven to the verge of extinction and
local populations of around 30 other species have been drastically reduced.
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