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South Georgia witnesses "a remarkable ecological recovery"

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Entire South Georgia land mass designated as protected

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Blue whales recovering

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Invasive rats removed from island

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Reindeer eradication

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Wild Life and Protected Areas Ordinance

Abandoned Whaling Ship Petrel, South Georgia Island (14258859997)

Whaling ends in South Georgia, total slaughter unmatched

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Great heaps of whale bones

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Rot and carcasses at Grytviken

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Sealing ends on South Georgia

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Reindeer imported to South Georgia

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Many biological problems to be solved

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Establishment of first station by Carl Anton Larsen at Grytviken

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The German South Georgia expedition

SouthGeorgia 1823 albatross

Albatross have great power

Alexander Fussell - The Brown Fur Seal - B1981.25.2325 - Yale Center for British Art

Fur seals almost extinct

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Pupping-cow season for the elephant seals

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Slaughter of an elephant seal

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Wildlife of South Georgia

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Captain James Cook claims island

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South Georgia forms from volcanic islands

Antarctic, South Georgia

Sealing

Sealing began on South Georgia in the late-1700s, first targeting fur seals for their pelts. By 1825, an estimated 1.2 million fur seals had been killed and by the beginning of the 20th century, they were hunted to virtual extinction. Sealers then turned to elephant seals, hunting them for their blubber oil. Sealing finally ceased during the mid-1960s, allowing these seal species to make a moderate recovery.

Whaling

Whaling began on South Georgia at the turn of the 20th century and became a center of the world’s whaling industry. At its height, over 3,000 men stationed on the island during the summers to hunt for whale and process the carcasses for blubber. This caused the whale populations to eventually collapse, and the stations were abandoned in 1965. In addition to contributing to the decline of these whale populations, the industry caused pollution on the island. 

Invasive Species

The onset of the sealing and whaling industries led to the introduction of invasive species that became a serious environmental issue during the 20th century on South Georgia. Particularly brown rats, which were introduced during the first sealing epoch, and reindeer, which were deliberately brought during the establishment of permanent human settlement on the island to be hunted for game. Both species greatly impacted native wildlife on the island and led to unprecedented eradication programs. 

Most Pressing Issues

South Georgia Heritage Trust

The South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) aims to work with all who wish to preserve the island’s natural and historical heritage for future generations – to redress past damage to its environment, to protect its wildlife now and in the future, and to preserve the human heritage of the island which so clearly shows the best and worst of humanity.

Friends of South Georgia Island 

The Friends of South Georgia Island organization was set up for the visiting public who wish to preserve the island’s natural and historical heritage for future generations – to redress the damage to its environment done in the past, and to preserve the human heritage of the island which so clearly shows the best and worst of humanity. 

How You Can Help

South Georgia