Dogs were taken to the Antarctic on the early ‘heroic age’ expeditions at the turn of the 20th Century. They were instrumental in helping the Norwegian explorer Amundsen and his team to be the first to reach the South Pole in 1911. The fact that the Norwegians were good and experienced dog handlers was thought by many experts to be one of the main reasons that they were able to reach the pole before Scott and his team. Since those days, dogs have been used extensively for polar travel and for the support of scientific work. Although dogs were slower than vehicles, they were considered to be safer as they were not so heavy and it was thought that huskies also had an awareness of crevasses.
The 14 remaining dogs were finally removed from Rothera in February 1994. To mark the end of the era, the dogs spent the last season doing what they did best, pulling a sledge as a working team in support of a surveying project on Alexander Island. When the dogs finally departed Rothera, special husky kennels were built and fitted inside the BAS Dash 7 aircraft for the 5-hour flight to the Falkland Islands. The dogs spent several weeks adapting to the warmer climate and new surroundings, experiencing grass, sheep and children for the first time. They flew from the Falklands to the UK on a special RAF Tristar flight. Once again the dogs received a warm welcome to the UK, this time becoming media stars in all the national papers. Once quarantine was completed the final leg of their journey took them to Quebec in Canada, courtesy of British Airways.
Of the 13 dogs who arrived in Canada, 5 died within the first year due to infection and disease. Unfortunately it was not possible to breed from any of the remaining dogs and the last two died in 2001. Sadly, the end of an era for the British Antarctic husky dogs.
Annex II to the Environmental Protocol (Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora) required that dogs were removed from Antarctica by April 1994. This ban was introduced because of concern that dogs might introduce diseases such as canine distemper that might be transferred to seals, and that they could break free and disturb or attack the wildlife. It was also thought to be inconsistent for the Protocol to have strict controls on the introduction of non-native species, but at the same time allow huskies to be bred and used in Antarctica.
In the 1980’s and early 1990’s, a small number of dogs were kept at Rothera Research Station for recreational purposes. The dogs were well looked after and gave station personnel the chance to get a feel for what the earlier explorers and scientists would have experienced. The dogs were also considered to be good for morale, which is important in an environment where people are away from home for periods of over two years. There was considerable resistance from station personnel when the legislation for the removal of the dogs was put in place.
History of Sled Dogs in Antarctica
Sled dogs are part and parcel of the exploration and history of Antarctica. The first dogs to arrive in Antarctica did so on 17 February 1899. Southern Cross – the ship – landed 75 dogs at Cape Adare in the Ross Sea. After the landing, the area experienced a four-day blizzard that trapped seven men ashore, who survived by using the dogs to keep themselves warm. As mentioned, Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole in 1911 using sled dogs. Ernest Shackleton and Robert Scott attempted the same feat but were less successful than Amundsen. The dogs used in these expeditions were West Greenland Huskies – very large dogs, with males weighing around 120 pounds. Overall, they were a mixture of light tan, white, and black and had a tuft of fur that stood up on their spine. They were built more for strength than speed.
How Were Dogs Used in Antarctica?
Sled dogs quickly became an integral part of life and research in Antarctica. They played a key role in the science and exploration of the continent during the Scientific and Heroic Ages. Usually, the men relied on the dogs as loyal companions and workers, while the dogs relied on their keepers for survival. They were very useful for transportation as they pulled sleds from one place to another at a time when reliable mechanized transportation was still unavailable. The rugged terrain and cold temperatures in Antarctica were the main reasons reliable mechanized transport was late in reaching Antarctica. When it did, the sled dogs that had previously been used for transport in Antarctica were retrained in many bases for recreational purposes. They were also kept ready in case they were required to provide a backup to mechanized transport.
The most notable demonstration of the usefulness of dog teams in Antarctica was the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition led by Roald Amundsen. In 1911, Amundsen and his team of five men became the first to reach the South Pole. A significant chunk of their success can be attributed to the use of sled dogs for transport. Amundsen’s rival, Robert Scott, also led a team of five to the South Pole, although they all died on their way back due to dehydration, hypothermia, starvation, and vitamin deficiency. In contrast, Amundsen and his team made it back in good health and had actually gained weight during the expedition. Before the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, however, another significant sledding trip was made in Antarctica. The journey was completed between 1091 and 1904 during the Swedish Antarctic Expedition and involved three men: Jose Sobral, Otto Nordenskjold, and Ole Jonassen. This team of three completed a 380-mile round trip from the Eastern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula at Snow Hill in 33 days. Their journey was the first fully-recorded trip by dog sled as well as the longest undertaken for many years. At one point during the expedition, the sled dogs found the bag carrying the men’s food and ate it. This prompted the team to quickly find a better way to store their supplies.
Why No One’s Allowed To Explore The Antarctic
Sled dogs were crucial in the exploration of Antarctica and the arctic. In 1911, they helped transport supplies for a team of Norwegian explorers led by the popular Roald Amundsen, as reported by Ripley’s. Amundsen is known for leading the first expedition ever to reach the South Pole. Thereafter, dogs remained a crucial part of life and research in the North and South Poles until 1993, when they were banned. Have you ever wondered Dogs Are Banned from Which Continent? This ban took effect in Antarctica. Let’s review why.