The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at new regulations on subantarctic islands for visitors, the solution to a 66-year old Antarctic mystery, and a grim outlook for reindeer populations due to the changing climate.
The Polar Retrospective is a collaborative effort by the editorial team of polarjournal.net. Each writer chooses a topic they found interesting and important in the past week. The initials at the end of each section indicate the author. We hope you enjoy it.
New Season, New Rules for Visitors of Southern Ocean islands
Visitors to the subantarctic islands will face new regulations and higher fees in the upcoming season, as conservation authorities look to manage the increasing impact of tourism on these fragile ecosystems. New Zealand’s Department of Conservation has announced a significant fee hike for visitors to its subantarctic islands, a move aimed at funding vital conservation work and ensuring the protection of the unique wildlife and pristine landscapes of the region. The additional revenue will be used to maintain and upgrade facilities, as well as to support research and monitoring programs that are essential for the long-term preservation of these remote and biodiverse islands.
Meanwhile, in the Falkland Islands, new guidelines have been issued for the 2025-2026 season, particularly for cruise ship passengers visiting penguin colonies. These updated regulations emphasize the importance of minimizing disturbance to wildlife, with strict rules on maintaining a safe distance from animals, staying on marked trails, and adhering to biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of diseases. For instance, the “Countryside Code” explicitly states that visitors must never feed or touch wildlife and must stay at least 6 meters (20 feet) away from the outer edge of any animal colonies. At Yorke Bay, a popular destination for penguin viewing, a mandatory guide-to-tourist ratio of 1:16 will be enforced, and all visitors must be accompanied by a guide. At Gypsy Cove, operators bringing more than 100 passengers a day will be required to have a representative on-site to manage visitor flow and ensure compliance with the code of conduct. These measures are designed to ensure that the islands’ remarkable wildlife can continue to thrive, while still allowing the rising numbers of visitors to experience their natural wonders in a responsible and sustainable manner. M.W.
Remains of Antarctic Researcher Found After 66 Years
A 66-year-old mystery has been solved in Antarctica with the discovery of the remains of Dennis “Tink” Bell, a 25-year-old British meteorologist who went missing in 1959. The body of the scientist, who was working for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, the predecessor to the British Antarctic Survey, was found in a receding glacier, a poignant reminder of the human cost of polar exploration and the dramatic changes taking place in the Earth’s frozen continent. Bell was part of a team conducting meteorological and geological research on King George Island when he fell into a hidden crevasse during a blizzard. His colleague, Jeff Stokes, attempted a heroic rescue, lowering a rope and pulling Bell almost to safety. But tragedy struck when Bell’s belt, to which the rope was tied, snapped, sending him plunging back into the icy depths. Despite extensive search efforts at the time, no trace of him was ever found.
The discovery was made by a team of Polish glaciologists who were studying the impacts of climate change on the Ecology Glacier. As the ice has thinned and retreated at an accelerated rate, it has begun to reveal long-hidden secrets. Along with Bell’s remains, over 200 personal items were recovered, including his radio, a flashlight, ski poles, a Swedish Mora knife, an engraved wristwatch, and even the stem of his pipe. The find has brought a sense of closure to the scientific community and to Bell’s family, who were “shocked and amazed” by the news. His brother, David, now 86, recalled his older brother as a hero who could “turn his hand to anything.” The melting of glaciers and ice sheets in Antarctica is not only contributing to sea-level rise but is also changing the physical landscape of the continent, exposing areas that have been covered in ice for centuries, and, in this instance, unearthing a tragic story from the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. M.W.
Climate Change Threatens Reindeer Populations
The future of reindeer populations is in jeopardy as a result of climate change, according to a new study published in the journal Science Advances. The research, which combines satellite data with field observations, reveals that warmer winters and increased rainfall are creating a deadly threat to these iconic Arctic animals. The study highlights the growing frequency of “rain-on-snow” events, where rain falls on top of existing snowpack and then freezes, forming a hard layer of ice. This ice sheet acts as a barrier, preventing reindeer from reaching the lichen that is their primary food source during the winter months.
The researchers found that these icing events are becoming more common and widespread across the Arctic, with devastating consequences for reindeer herds. In the winter of 2013-14, a single such event led to the starvation of 61,000 reindeer in the Yamal peninsula of Russia. Unable to break through the ice to forage, the animals are forced to expend precious energy searching for alternative food sources, often with little success. This can lead to malnutrition, reduced birth rates, and, in severe cases, mass starvation. The study warns that if current warming trends continue, the frequency and intensity of these rain-on-snow events are likely to increase, with the global reindeer population projected to decline by 58% by the end of the century. The situation is particularly dire in North America, where the population could plummet by as much as 84% by 2100. The findings underscore the urgent need for global action to mitigate climate change and protect the fragile ecosystems of the Arctic, which are warming at a faster rate than anywhere else on Earth. M.W.