This footage was filmed and produced 20 January 2024.

[Note: no sound]

In a challenging expedition, scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) undertook aerial surveys of Zavodovski Island in the sub-Antarctic, aiming to count the largest penguin colony globally. The remote volcanic island, home to over a million breeding chinstrap penguins, presents unique terrestrial biodiversity, including mosses, lichens, and invertebrates thriving in the cold around volcanic vents.

Zavodovski Island, an active volcano with a rugged coastline exposed to harsh seas, erupted in 2016, covering half the island in ash. Due to logistical challenges, there have been limited surveys on the island's wildlife. The team of six scientists, part of a Darwin PLUS funded project, sailed 1,300 miles from the Falkland Islands, enduring a seven-day journey across challenging oceans.

Upon reaching the island in early December, the team set up camp for three weeks to collect essential scientific data for conserving species threatened by environmental change. Ground counts and aerial surveys from drones at 50m altitude provided detailed images of the chinstrap and macaroni penguin colonies and terrestrial biodiversity. If proven accurate, these aerial photos could revolutionize monitoring, reducing the need for risky and expensive expeditions.

The project, aiming to inform management plans for the South Sandwich Islands, involved tagging penguins with satellite transmitters to track their movements. Additionally, researchers collected penguin guano for DNA fingerprinting, revealing insights into their diet.

Norman Ratcliffe, ecologist at BAS and project lead, emphasized the collaborative effort to establish baseline data for Zavodovski Island, enabling informed decisions for its management and species protection.