MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Sea lions dying as island still burns; Argentine families' letter of thanks; Jeremy Moore Ave at risk from flood?; Council says no to flight proposals; Stanley busy with cruises.

Sea lions dying as island still burns

THE Falklands' second-largest sea lion colony is in danger as its island home continues to burn. A number of the animals have had to be destroyed this week. Three weeks after a devastating fire, allegedly caused by the crew of a visiting yacht, swept across Green Island in Choiseul Sound, the home of over 200 sea lions, a team has visited the island to survey the damage. The island has been extremely badly burnt, with 95% affected, many small birds left without food or shelter and the sea lion population is still at grave risk of burning through contact with hot ashes and slow-burning peat. The survey party, which included Andrew Miller and Steve Pearce from the Fire Department, Ben Sullivan and Andy Black from Falklands Conservation and the owner of Green Island, Sally Poncet, visited the island aboard the yacht Damien II. The island's entire shoreline and interior was assessed, investigating the damage to vegetation, soil and wildlife. A joint statement from Becky Ingham of Falklands Conservation and Sally Poncet said, "The island was on fire at many spots along its entire length, deep in the peat and surfacing where the peat bogs had burned to leave circular ash-filled pits underneath which was red-hot glowing peat two metres or more in depth. "In places, these pits had extended and covered tens of square metres, leaving exposed peat faces metres high and intensely hot. The face of the fires continued to spread, visibly eating away at the areas of remnant intact tussac and more insidiously, underground in the currently unburnt peat." The statement continued, "Of particular concern is the largest surviving tussac area on the island's southeast coast. This is approximately 200m long and up to 20m wide. The peat fires are only metres away from this area, which is inhabited by the island's sea lion population. "Five badly injured animals (three females and two pups) were seen here, all with flippers burnt raw, showing pink flesh and in an obvious state of distress, and not moving when approached. "The risk of animals falling into the burning pits is extremely high, as indicated by the number of already injured animals seen, and the number of animals injured will continue to increase unless a physical barrier is erected to prevent the seals from moving inland until steps are taken to extinguish the peat fires." Also injured were Rock shags: three groups breeding on the south coast of the island were affected and dead burnt fledglings were seen; at least 12 fledglings had burnt tail feathers and/or feet, some with no webbing left, others with exposed pink flesh on the remains of the feet. The statement said, "At the time of the fire these birds would have been on the nest, still being fed by the adults and unable to fly. A few adults had singed body feathers. "Dead Magellanic penguin chicks and Turkey vultures were also seen. At the time of the fire these birds would have been unable to fly or to go to sea." Continued on page 3

Argentine families' letter of thanks

THE Argentine Families Commission has thanked Islanders for their "understanding and respect" in working towards the erection of the war memorial at Darwin. A letter about the memorial, which arrived at Mare Harbour aboard BBC Japan on Wednesday afternoon, was sent to His Excellency the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce, this week. The letter says, "...we would like to thank you for your cooperation which has enabled us to achieve a long held wish to honour our loved ones. We would also, through yourself, wish to extend those thanks to the inhabitants of the Islands, who have understood and respected our feelings and assisted in the achievement of our tribute." It continues, "The construction of the Memorial to the memory of the Argentine soldiers who fell in the armed conflict of 1982 was conceived on strictly humanitarian grounds, and represents an extremely important step towards human rapprochement of our respective peoples, such as was laid down by both governments in the Joint Statement of 14 July 1999." The Commission foresees no "major difficulties" in the monument's construction. The letter says, "We are absolutely certain that the final stage of construction will go ahead without major difficulties, given the positive and respectful attitude we have always perceived amongst the Islands' population in respect of the Argentine next of kin, both during their visits to the Darwin Cemetery and throughout this undertaking - one which was developed and will be completed as an initiative by those who suffered the most terrible loss which a human being can face, that is to say the death of a loved one."

Jeremy Moore Ave at risk from flood?

RESIDENTS of Jeremy Moore Avenue in Stanley are concerned drainage works planned for the racecourse may lead to their homes being swamped. Drainage work is planned to improve the quality of the race track. Following heavy rainfall in December, the need for the work was highlighted at the Christmas race meeting when the finishing post was moved as part of the course had become so waterlogged it was deemed too dangerous to race on. However, residents of Jeremy Moore Avenue are concerned that new ditches will draw water from the racecourse towards their properties. Penguin News contacted the Environmental Planning Officer, Tony Lancaster, who said a meeting between members of his department, the Public Works Department and the Stanley Sports Association was held on Wednesday afternoon, "...to determine the extent of drainage works being undertaken at the racecourse." He said, "As the works are extending beyond basic maintenance of ditches, the benefit of planning consent will be required and Stanley Sports Association are being advised accordingly." Mr Lancaster added that the issue of land drainage for properties north of the racecourse, "...is a wider but related issue," and an item will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the Stanley Lands Committee to be held on Thursday, March 11.

Council says no to flight proposals

COUNCILLORS say the proposals for air links, discussed by British Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell and Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa, "...should not be taken forward," as they stand. In a statement released by Gilbert House earlier this week, councillors said the proposals, "...fall short of the criteria we need to resolve this disagreement. "Nevertheless we understand the United Kingdom Government will remain engaged with the Argentine Government on air links, as on other issues." Early this week, the Argentine press reported that the proposals included four Argentine flights per month to the Islands and they would not begin later than the inauguration of the monument at Darwin.

Stanley busy with cruises

STANLEY will be busy with cruise ship tourists this weekend. Norwegian Crown (maximum passenger capacity 1052) will be in Stanley today. Tomorrow, Royal Princess (1275), Clipper Adventurer (141), Explorer II (198) and Amsterdam (1380) will all be in Stanley while Hanseatic (102) will call at New Island and Carcass Island. On Sunday, Explorer II will visit New Island and Endeavour (110) will call in to Stanley. On Monday, Endeavour will visit Carcass and New Island.