fact sheet #17 - history sa.docx

Fact Sheet # 17: Dogs Huskies were used in Antarctica for a little under a hundred years. They were first used for transport during the Southern Cross expedition under Carsten Borchgrevink 1898 -1900. In the early years, they were the only form of transport other than foot, as the 20th Century progressed, so more effective and more reliable mechanized transport became available. For a long time these motor vehicles were only really trustworthy on relatively flat, smooth surfaces and even then a gifted mechanic nearby was often a necessity. Dog sleds remained until well into the 1970's asa required transportation solution. They were much more flexible than motor vehicles available at the time, considerably lighter (for travelling across crevassed regions or sea-ice) and could cope with the broken up/ fractured terrain often encountered in Antarctica better than the early tracked vehicles. They were kept, initially asa back-up for mechanized transport and then later when not required for this, for "recreational" purposes. Many generations of Antarctic personnel on scientific bases regarded their experiences in Antarctica as being greatly enhanced by the presence of the dogs and the possibility of sledging trips with them. In 1991, the fear that distemper from dogs could spread to seals and the impact they could have on wildlife if they escaped led toa new clause in the Antarctic