Jimanory No. 1
The Mysteries of the Falkland’s Penguins
Some Brief Background
Argentina, had claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands – or what they called the Malvinas – for many years – claiming that they were stolen from them and colonised by European countries – notably the U.K.
They lie just 480 Km. (300 miles) east of their coast – i.e. a lot closer than the UK.
In 1982 – the military government, led by General Galtier, – under political pressure at home – invaded and took control over the Islands – accepting the surrender of the UK Governor – Sir Rex Masterman Hunt CMG OBE and imposing their Governor -General Mario Menendez,
The Conservative UK government – with Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister- chose to respond and defend what was, officially, a’ British Overseas Territory’ housing British citizens – and had been for over 150 years – and formed a military unit known as Land Forces Falkland Islands which, following two months of battle – was eventually successful in repelling the occupying Argentinians and reclaiming the Islands – though with significant loss of life on both sides.
So – what about the penguins?
The British military maintained a presence – there was some concern that the Argentinian military Junta would not accept defeat – and even more political pressure at home –so might, try again – and large areas – particularly around Port Stanley – had been planted with land mines by the Argentinians, during the conflict and clearing them was a long job.
With much support from the UK in terms of regular supply flights and a rebuilding programme – the Island residents and military – set about restoring things to as close to normal as possible.
Over time – two mysteries developed over the local penguins – whose numbers had increased substantially in the last few decades following the reduction in whaling activities.
It seems that the whalers – particularly the Japanese – would kill penguins and burn them as fuel both for themselves and the processing of whale blubber – there being an absence of much local wood or other combustible materials.
During the conflict and to this day the Falklands house five different species of penguins – there are even regular organised tours to view such varieties in one accessible location. A sort of penguin safari.
The range starts with the smallest -the Gentoo -then Macaroni -then rockhopper – then Magellenic and the biggest – King Penguins.
The mysteries?
- Despite the prevalence of land mines and the fact that most species wandered freely and seemed to have no fear of being near to people – there was little evidence of any of them being blown up.
- There was a developing problem – which had apparently, not been seen as a problem before the conflict. Residents and military personnel began to regularly find penguins flat out on their backs and unable to get up unassisted. Knowing, if left, they would starve to death – this became an onerous task for all residents in righting them.
It was exacerbated by the fact that – whilst the smaller penguins seemed able to get upright by themselves, on occasions – and if not, were small enough for just one person to lift them up – but the penguins who were more likely to need human intervention, were the biggest of them – the King Penguins.
They were between 70 – 100 Cms. tall (28” – 39”) and weighed on average – 9 – 18 Kgs, (20 -40 lbs.) so required a bit of effort to lift.
There was also some confusion about why this problem, apparently, hadn’t been evident before the conflict.
The Answers:
1, A visiting Marine Biologist came up with the answer – most penguins – even the King penguins, weighed much less than humans and also had bigger feet and therefore a lighter footfall.
They were simply walking over the land mines without detonating them.
- A little more difficult – and the residents were just as baffled as the visitors.
Until a UK officer – in travelling around his Brigade positions – described what he had seen.
When driving near the coast he could see a pair of King penguins walking to the sea and then heard a large cargo plane coming in to land – he noted that both penguins stood still at the noise and – as the plane approached them in descending to over fly them – both looked up to follow the flight and – as the plane flew over them – continued to lean back to follow it – and ended up flat on their backs.
The reason that it hadn’t happened before the conflict, was simply due to the fact that a much smaller quantity of supplies and goods were coming into the islands and a lot of that was by sea.
Now, the much-increased deliveries – three or four per day – were predominantly by air into Port Stanley airport and the penguins were just not familiar with these things in the air flying over them.
He consensus was – leave it a few more months and they will loss interest -and so they did.
Mysteries solved