Ascension's Marine Protected Area (MPA) is one of the largest in the world, protecting 445 000 km2 of ocean. The waters around Ascension are near pristine, supporting healthy populations of seabirds, tuna, marlin, and sharks as well as thirteen species of fish found nowhere else in the world. It is a thriving oceanic community in the heart of the Atlantic.
In the Falkland Islands, working dogs are used for a variety of roles. For local farmers, dogs are of valuable assistance in managing large numbers of sheep over vast areas of land. Other working dogs are used to protect the local wildlife - particularly ground nesting birds - from invasive species. Dogs are also a crucial part of military and police operations within the Islands, such as patrols, tracking and drug detection.
The Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) was established in November 1948 with the arrival of two Auster aircraft to provide the community with an air ambulance service.
Isle of Man Post Office announces some tariff changes to Isle of Man and UK postal rates with effect from 8th January 2024.
Of the 6 penguin species that reside in the Antarctic only two can truly claim the continent as their homeland – emperors and Adélies. Unlike other penguins, emperor penguins are dependent on stable sea ice that is firmly attached to the shore (‘land-fast’ ice) for the majority of the year, from April through to January. Once they arrive at their chosen breeding site, penguins lay eggs in the Antarctic winter from May to June. Eggs hatch after 65 days, but chicks do not fledge until summer, between December and January. It is this dependence on sea ice that has left them so highly vulnerable in recent years.
2023 sees the 60th Anniversary of the first British Antarctic Territory stamps. Until 2022 all of the issues had featured either the Queen’s portrait or Royal Cypher. 2023 sees the first issues to be released featuring the new King Charles III Portrait.
UKAHT protects and preserves sites and artefacts of international significance across the Antarctic peninsula. Our aim is to make our shared Antarctic heritage accessible to all, whether from the sofa or the ship. We want audiences across the world to be able to discover these charismatic sites and their remarkable stories. Through this, we hope that people will develop a deeper appreciation for this extraordinary continent.
