Reindeer running near King Penguins rookery at St Andrews Bay South Georgia ,the largest King penguin rookery in the world
South Georgia has no indigenous terrestrial mammals. During both the sealing and whaling industrial eras attempts were made to introduce animals for human benefit. Horses, reindeer, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, upland geese, cats, dogs, foxes and even a monkey were brought to South Georgia. Only the reindeer remain. Reindeer were introduced from central Norway. Ten arrived in 1911 in Ocean Harbour on the Barff Peninsula. Their numbers increased rapidly to around 3,000, but have recently declined to around 1,300. An introduction in 1911/12 of 5 reindeer to Leith increased to around 20 before perishing in an avalanche in the 1920s. In 1925 an introduction of 7 reindeer in Husvik increased to a herd of around 800. Recently calves have been taken and introduced to the Falkland Islands for commercial farming. The reindeer have had a significant impact on the local flora, which has been continuously grazed for some 80 to 90 years.
Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: St Andrews Bay,South Georgia Island,south Scotia sea,sub Antarctic,Antarctica ,Antartica
Photo credit: © NORMA JOSEPH / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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