Macquarie Island, a windswept outpost in the south-western Pacific Ocean between Tasmania and Antarctica, is a place of staggering natural wealth. Millions of seabirds once nested in its tussock grass and burrows, while seals crowded its beaches. But beginning in the 19th century, the arrival of a few stowaways and human introductions set in motion one of the most devastating ecological collapses in island history.
Macquarie Island was first sighted in 1810 by Australian sealer Frederick Hasselborough, who had been searching for new sealing grounds. His discovery proved fortuitous. The island teemed with wildlife, most notably an immense population of fur seals—estimated at between 200,000 and 400,000 individuals. The commercial response was swift. In just the first 18 months of exploitation, at least 120,000 fur seals were slaughtered for their skins. Within a decade, the once-abundant population had been driven to the brink of extinction.
Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island. Credit: Natalie Tapson
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