An abundance of marine life - but the wildlife of the Falkland Islands is more vulnerable than most

The Falkland Islands have become surprisingly diverse

What springs to mind when you think of the Falklands? You might imagine the wild, windswept landscape, sparsely populated by the sheep-farming communities that have made the Islands their home for nearly 200 years. Those of my vintage will recall grainy television images of the war in 1982, Margaret Thatcher’s subsequent visit, and grateful islanders

An abundance of marine life - but the wildlife of the Falkland Islands is more vulnerable than most

Conservation and research here is almost entirely reliant on grant funding from the UK government through a scheme for British Overseas Territories called Darwin Plus. But the future of the scheme is in doubt as budgets for overseas development and conservation are threatened.

An abundance of marine life – but the wildlife of the Falkland Islands – khbrknews

You can hear them before you see them. And smell them. At this time of year – the South Atlantic summer – the penguins of the Falkland Islands mob together in rookeries on these isolated beaches to raise their fluffy chicks. And we’re surrounded by them. The beach at Volunteer Point on the northeast tip of the Falklands is home to its largest colony of king penguins. Up to a metre tall, they stand squabbling in a defensive huddle around their ch…

Why Wildlife In The Falkland Islands Is More Vulnerable Than Most - Great Yorkshire Radio

At this time of year – the South Atlantic summer – the penguins of the Falkland Islands mob together in rookeries on these isolated beaches to raise their fluffy chicks. And we’re surrounded by them. The beach at Volunteer Point on the northeast tip of the Falklands is home to its largest colony of king penguins. Up to a metre tall, they stand squabbling in a defensive huddle around their chicks. But there are others too, burrowing magellanic pe…