Very few would keep Antarctica in their bucket list of must-visit places. It’s no doubt a unique travel destination, especially when you think of the freezing cold. But the otherwise resilient fauna and the perfect zone for nature-watching are potent factors that should propel you to consider visiting this place. One of the most picturesque and pristine landscapes on the globe, Antarctica is a hotspot for scientific research. No matter how excited you feel to visit this awesome place, we recommend you know the rules inside out.
Penguins Are Better By Themselves
Animal-watching rules are quite clear. Maintain a specified distance from animals, keep quiet, and try to keep your urge of feeding them at bay! And yes, that includes chumming – attracting them with fish guts. To put it straight, many bird species prefer hiding their eggs in the grass, so be careful when you walk. Or else, it wouldn’t be a great thing to get chased by an angry Skua!
Penguins actually display some strange behavior. You would rarely notice these animals launching themselves from sea level. It’s what we call porpoising in small visitor boats. But even if they do, they’re great at locating where they were and eventually get back inside the sea. So don’t make the mistake of thinking to be too genteel and touch. Yes, they look cuddly, but surely you don’t know their anger yet.
Stay Away From Lichen
How do you imagine Antarctica? Snow-capped zones everywhere, and possibly the occasional flashing of the black rock beneath. For a long time, we spoke about the fauna, but there’s no denying that the flora is equally worth praising. Several types of mosses, grass, and lichen abound in Antarctica.
They do take a long time to grow, thanks to the absence of sunlight, perpetual darkness, and even temperatures hovering below -20 degrees Celsius on ordinary summer days! Ensure you don’t step on them. Not many might be aware of this, but lichens are vital to the continent’s ecosystem, so stick to the snow.
Don’t Bother Dolphins
Separate guidelines are mentioned for whale and dolphin watching too. Even if you follow the rules to the core, there are few like not trapping animals inside boat tunnels even accidentally. Do not sail any boat inside the world of dolphins just because you want them to bow ride with you.
This is a rare sight – so make sure you watch this. Also, it’s important to note that staying in Antarctica is difficult, especially when some creatures are fond of the cool experience. But if you get lucky, chances are that both whales and dolphins are bow-riding via their own initiatives.
Keep An Eye On The Whale
Till now, you have surely understood that wildlife rules focus upon helping them enjoy their own habitat. But there is one exception – when a whale or any marine animal is caught in fishing gear or equipment. As a novice, it’s doubtful how far you would be able to help since only experienced members of the crew should try and that too, during the expedition. however, the least you can do is take a snapshot of the tour operator.
Alongside, you can be specific with the details like the species, coordinate location, how the animal got entangled, and so on. Photos will certainly help to find the animal, but in the future too, these records in the archive will serve as rich resources for reducing such incidents.
Collect Your Own Ashes
Remember Antarctica is breathtakingly beautiful. So you’ve got no right to pollute in any way! Environmental pollution is a serious cause of concern. Hence, the guidelines state clearly how graffiti and littering are strictly not allowed. This is much the same for water pollution and also when you walk through the water or skip stones inside.
But if you happen to be a smoker, be alert to collect every bit of ash. Besides, there are designated areas and you can carry all that ash until you leave the place and then safely deposit it. At any point, you can’t litter, so wait till you reach the land.
Antarctica stands for beauty, but dangers abound. Stay safe and enjoy a memorable trip here.