MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
HMS Dragon helicopter helps track remaining reindeer in South Georgia
HMS Dragon made her first visit to South Georgia over Christmas, reports the South Georgia newsletter in its December edition. The Type 45 air defense destroyer had a Westland Lynx helicopter on board which was used to survey the Barff Peninsula for any remaining reindeer ahead of the arrival of the Norwegian SNO marksmen. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesPoor reindeers.
Jan 27th, 2015 - 07:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Cue Argentina whinging about the evil piratas stealing Argentina's reindeer.
Jan 27th, 2015 - 08:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Nice venison steaks
Jan 27th, 2015 - 09:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I'm generally pro-British, especially the Royal Navy, but this just p*sses me off.
Jan 27th, 2015 - 09:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Typical environmentalist intervention in wiping out an established population.
BEWARE!!!!
Jan 27th, 2015 - 09:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Here there be a Dragon!!!
@4 Chicureo
Jan 27th, 2015 - 09:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0This has nothing to do with being British, this is just the environmentalist nutters trying to turn back time.
If the reindeer are so detrimental to South Georgia why don't they just shoot them with tranqs and ship them back to Lapland, Sweden, Norway or wherever?
I don't agree with killing them just because some people introduced them to the islands over 100 years..
The human race has destroyed far more environments than any animal species has and I don't see the environmentalists demanding human populations begin culled? Do you?
@4, 6. Try some research. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Georgia_and_the_South_Sandwich_Islands#Mammals
Jan 27th, 2015 - 09:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Besides, shooting has to be promoted. How to cull argies!
@7 Coonqueror
Jan 27th, 2015 - 10:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Besides, shooting has to be promoted. How to cull argues!” More of your ad hominem remarks” You are shameless.
What a relevant piece of news. British-bribed media can be really unpredictable...
Jan 27th, 2015 - 10:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I have to say the “reporting” was very uncritical. No questions about “Why” reindeer or rats have to be culled. No questions about what effect the poison for the rats has on birds or animals that eat it.
Jan 27th, 2015 - 11:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Norwegian whalers introduced the reindeer for meat, they have been destroying threatened seabird species habitats ever since, same with the rats. If these alien species are eradicated the birds will recover. Seabirds will die from the rat poison but it has been calculated that they will recover ok. Its being very carefully managed.
Jan 27th, 2015 - 11:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Before you go to South Georgia they disinfect your clothing and examine all the velcro to make sure you arent carrying alien seeds. They are trying to return it into a wildlife haven.
LEPRecon
Jan 28th, 2015 - 06:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0Yeah, well you're wrong, some of the same idiots, want to see a decline in human population increases.
I have nothing against sea birds, but neither do I with reindeer.
Oh well, it's a lost cause.
Meanwhile, my Chilean naval companions and I are celebrating the self destruction of the last instutional threat against my country. They already devastated their military and now with the SI nearly gone, it's like Christmas again.
Dragon has outstanding air defence missile capabilities. So when she is deployed against reindeer it's time for Rudolph and friends to get very nervous.
Jan 28th, 2015 - 06:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0#6
Jan 28th, 2015 - 10:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0Firstly you would have to get agreement with the Nordic countries to accept an alien species of reindeer which may or may not harbour diseases and pests.
Then the cost of capturing the animals and the stress of a 6 weeks voyage to Europe would probably result in their deaths. If you eat meat then you should have no problem with the cull. After all, that is why they were introduced in the first place.
The elimination of rats is long overdue. They came to a place where there were no natural ground predators and proceeded to all but eliminate ground nesting birds.
The pois0ning of rats is carried out in late summer when the seabirds have left the colonies so they are unaffected.
The same scheme has been carried out extensively in New Zealand with success. Native species which were near extinction are slowly recovering.
Man caused the problem in the first place, due to ignorance, so it is up us to fix it.
@ 14 Clyde15
Jan 28th, 2015 - 11:05 am - Link - Report abuse 0SPOT ON!
I hear what you say,
Jan 28th, 2015 - 01:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0still,
poor reindeers,
and father Christmas will be told,
but on a lighter note,
Clyde15
says,
Native species which were near extinction are slowly recovering,
,,,,,,,
could we extend that to argies,
as they were introduced by the nasty Spaniards , and have since almost destroyed the native inhabitant's,
if we culled them, would not the native Indians start to recover and repopulate,
just saying like.
No need to ship them to Europe - that would be cruel. They could be shipped to one of the 700 Falkland Islands. They could be an alternative to mutton.
Jan 28th, 2015 - 03:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0How many seabirds, eg albatrosses, are killed by rats? How many by fishing operations? Then again, rats dont contribute to the economy....
17 The rats eat the eggs of ground nesting birds. Most seabirds nest on the ground, including the albatross, thats why they need to be wiped out.
Jan 28th, 2015 - 03:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0This is an awesome article that might help you understand the whole logic and process.
Jan 28th, 2015 - 04:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/100000-rats-42-tonnes-of-poison-and-one-slightly-nervous-world-heritage-island/559/
@voice - fishing boats also kill thousands of adult birds every year. Why not ban fishing, and protect the birds? Compared to fishing, how many birds do rats kill?
Jan 28th, 2015 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I'm just puzzled why the BBC and others don't seem to ask questions. They simply read out the stuff they are given. Maybe because they have had a free trip to South Georgia, in order to report the plight of the pipit.
The seabirds have co-existed with reindeer and rats for 100 years.
@8. No. It's called realism.
Jan 28th, 2015 - 06:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@20. Well, it's possible. Murdering argie boats. A bit of research would show that Falklands boats avoid killing birds.
#19
Jan 28th, 2015 - 06:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Like I said, I'm pro-British and an avid hunting fan, but this is inspired by enviromentalist BS.
Their control seems to be OUT OF CONTROL anyway.
Start quote
The problem is that nobody knows how many birds might be accidentally killed, but previous exterminations offer some ominous indicators. When New Zealand aerial-bated Kapiti, a 2,000-hectare island bird sanctuary north of Wellington, there were significant declines in the call rates of wekas — a bird closely related to Lord Howe’s woodhens. Some research says the population was decimated. And up to 20 per cent of the island’s native parrots — the kaka — may have died. Brodifacoum was used on Kapiti.
Unquote
S Georgia is a huge island and a top destination for the Albatross to breed. Long line fishing has decimated them and the rats have decimated their nests. Why not kill off the rats? In 1960 there were hardly any fur seals there but the absence of the whalers, the decimation of whales means there are lots of krill and this has allowed the population to recover. The plan to protect and revive indiginous S Georgia wildlife is a very worthy one. Its a very delicate balance, lets hope our scientists have got it right.
Jan 28th, 2015 - 07:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#17
Jan 28th, 2015 - 07:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0To get back to first principles, neither species should be there and were both introduced by man. The native flora and fauna were in balance and self sustaining. Man has introduced alien species for which the indigenous wildlife has no defence. There is NO predator to control the rat so they breed out of control until eventually they will exhaust their food supply of native species. Surely it is our responsibility to put this right.
The Albatross is getting hammered by long line fishing and hammered by rats when they return to breed. They only have one chick and they breed only every 2/3 years so a decline in nearly all species has been noted. If we do not do anything they could eventually become extinct.
A detailed account of rat eradication can be found on this site
ayrshire-birding.org.uk/2001/01/ailsa_craig_before_and_after_the_eradication_of_rats_in_1991/
Having lived in this area for 43 years I can see the beneficial side of rat eradication programs.
It is great news to learn that HMS Dragon is patrolling South Georgia.
Jan 28th, 2015 - 09:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is also a warning to possible malvinazi “businessmen” who might try to invade
a British sovereign territory like in 1982.
Philippe
Soon the Carrier will make a visit , perhaps in the next few years.
Jan 28th, 2015 - 11:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@26
Jan 29th, 2015 - 03:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0I would love to see the new carrier in the South Atlantic Ocean...wasting fuel and pounds by millions...moving such ship would not be cheap at all....the best way to have the islands back to Argentina soon....
But then try to avoid that the information of the cost of the FI garrison reach the british public opinion.....otherwise the Queen herself will aks Argentina to take charge of the islands....
Argentina's broke but Argentineans are always worried about what the UK spends tax on.
Jan 29th, 2015 - 03:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0BRITAIN
CAN
AFFORD
IT
It can afford its navy.
It can afford the defence of Falkland Islands.
It can afford Gibraltar.
It can afford to spend money just on environmental projects such as this.
It can survive and afford any supposed loss of trade or business.
Argentina is not going to wear Britain down financially.
BBC
Jan 29th, 2015 - 03:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0“UK can't afford the Falklands”
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-11999601
In 2010: “UK can't afford the Falklands”
Jan 29th, 2015 - 06:25 am - Link - Report abuse 0But in 2015 it still does.
Bahahahaha suck it up Marcos. You keep waiting for something to happen..... but it doesn't.
#27
Jan 29th, 2015 - 09:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0Get real!!!!
The carriers and supporting vessels were NOT built for the defence of the Falklands. They were built to protect British interests world wide and to assist allies in joint operations where land bases are not an option..
You are so far up your own backside that you think Argentina is the UK's first priority in ALL decisions about defence. You are a nuisance but of little importance in the great scheme of things.
Marcos. This is the 3d time you have posted this 4 year old video of ONE man's opinion. If you looked, you would find others who contradict this.
I know it irks you to know that your country is nothing in world wide politics and has no clout. Your inferiority complex is there for all to see. Tough, maybe you are just inferior.
@29
Jan 29th, 2015 - 10:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0You're also ignoring the fact that there was more than one attempt at a leaseback deal prior to the 1982 invasion, and they all foundered on Argentina's refusal to recognise the rights of the islanders.
In that respect, nothing has changed since the junta. Argentina still rejects any application of the principles of law, democracy or human rights in pursuit of its territorial ambitions in the South Atlantic. This is a strategy which is almost guaranteed to ensure that Argentina will get precisely nothing. But that's not important. The islands aren't important to Argentina at all. What's important to Argentina is the perpetual sense of grievance. You should be grateful to the UK.
27 pgerman
Jan 29th, 2015 - 01:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0the only Carrier you have is a bag,
let us worry abt payments, you just worry abt your own rotting navy.
@ 27 pgerman
Jan 29th, 2015 - 05:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You have obviously missed the point that any new ship, after being accepted by the RN, ALWAYS 'works up' the crew until full efficiency is proven.
I would imagine that a cruise to The Falklands, engage some loons 400 miles to the west with cruise missles, and then sail back home would be very acceptable: NO extra money spent.
No need to worry about the UK old boy, try worrying about when they are coming to chuck you out of Canada. :o)
it will almost be certain that the carrier will go south,
Jan 29th, 2015 - 08:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0with its escorts and a sub to keep it company,
CFK on the other hand , may well be christening her new rowing boat...lolol
“But then try to avoid that the information of the cost of the FI garrison reach the british public opinion.....otherwise the Queen herself will aks Argentina to take charge of the islands”
Jan 30th, 2015 - 01:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0Behold a prime example of the Argentinean education system. Brainwashed regarding his own history, pgerman can't even do basic math.
The UK government spent 0.009% of its last budget on the Falklamd Islands.
That's not 1%.
It's not even .1 of 1%.
Or even point .1 of .1 of 1%.
It's that fricking tiny.
Let's compare shall we....
Argentina's budget is 0.7% of the UK's budget.
How the hell do the stupid Malvinistas think that they can outlast UK spending?
Mind you all those pounds must sound like such a lot of money when their pathetic country is so broke that its budget is so minuscule.
CFK has completely destroyed Argentina.
Jan 30th, 2015 - 10:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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