SOME ANTARCTIC PETS

Last updated: 18 January 2009.



Beppo—Scott's pony when he was a child.

Bothie—Jack Russell terrier who travelled round the world on Ran Fiennes' Transglobe expedition (1979-82). First dog to set paws at both poles. [See 'Bothie The Polar Dog' by Ranulph and Virginia Fiennes (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1984)]

Bravo—Malemute husky dog, born at McMurdo 14 August 1956, later mascot of Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

Mrs Chippy—Harry McNeish's cat on Shackleton's Endurance expedition. Subject of the recent autobiography (assisted by Caroline Alexander) 'Mrs Chippy.

Deerfoot—Not strictly a pet but treated as such, a Guernsey cow taken south by Byrd during his first Antarctic expedition (1928-30). Accompanied by Emmadine and Klondike. (See 'Low-Latitude Antarctic Gazetteer' Episode 7 elsewhere on this site).

D'Urville—Sir Douglas Mawson's pet dog, "...the Antarctica-born offspring of one of the finest dogs on the AAE." (p 117, Philip Ayres, Mawson.)

Emmadine—A Guernesy cow. See 'Deerfoot' above. (See 'Low-Latitude Antarctic Gazetteer' Episode 7 elsewhere on this site).

Ginge—A ginger cat. From Bob Burton: "Ginge, a ginger (!) cat, was acquired for the British Antarctic Survey base at Signy Island, South Orkneys, from Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. He arrived in the 1959/1960 summer season and became a part of base life, living on tinned sardines and herrings and sleeping in a blanket-lined box by the kitchen stove. A friendly cat, with a ready purr, he offered companionship when one felt at odds with other humans. Unfortunately, Ginge had the bad habit of getting out at night and killing petrels nesting in burrows around the base. This was unforgivable at a biological research station and, in 1964, Ginge was repatriated to Port Stanley."
Bob goes on to say: "The BAS Club Newsletter No 29 (I am now the editor) featured pets, including a pig and Tiddles, the cat, at Port Lockroy. Did you know there was once a monkey at Grytviken?"

Iceberg—Born 275 miles north of the Antarctic Circle as Byrd's first Antarctic expedition (1928-30) headed south. See 'Deerfoot' above. (See 'Low-Latitude Antarctic Gazetteer' Episode 7 elsewhere on this site).

Igloo—Fox terrier who accompanied Richard Byrd to the Antarctic. Buried in Dedham, Massachusetts. (See 'Low-Latitude Antarctic Gazetteer' Episode 15 elsewhere on this site). [See also 'Igloo' by Jane Brevoort Walden (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1931).]

Klondike—A Guernesy cow. See 'Deerfoot' above. Contracted frostbite and was put down. (See 'Low-Latitude Antarctic Gazetteer' Episode 7 elsewhere on this site).

Kris—A sled dog brought back from Antarctica by Cherry-Garrard and kept as a pet (p 158, Sara Wheeler, Cherry; A Life of Apsley Cherry-Garrard.)

Lumus—Cat on British Graham Land Expedition (1934-37).

Nansen—Cat on de Gerlache's Belgica expedition (1898-99).

Nigger—Black cat on Scott's Terra Nova expedition (1910-13).

Scamp—Scott's Aberdeen terrier on Scott's Discovery expedition (1901-04) He stayed in New Zealand rather than going south.

Sydney—Newfoundland dog on Wilkes' United States Exploring Expedition (1838-42). Thought to be first dog to go south.

Toby—Pig on Charcot's Français expedition (1903-05).

Tom's Rabbit—Rabbit looked after by Tom Crean on Scott's Terra Nova Expedition. Was it ever named? [See 'Tom's Rabbit' by Meredith Hooper (London: Frances Lincoln, 1998).]

Vinker—Armitage's Samoyed dog on Scott's Discovery expedition (1901-04).


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