Karukinka National Park, located off the Strait of Magellan, at the end of Jackson Bay is a privately-owned reserve and the Tierra del Fuego archipelago's largest protected land area. With special permission to go to shore, we were greeted by the litter of thousands of plastic bags and containers and the roaring, barking and snorting of a hundred or so, juvenile, male, Southern Elephant seals.
All floating litter in the Strait of Magellan eventually blows/floats onto the windy beach we landed on. Shocked at the sight, we were told we could not instigate a clean-up operation. Apparently the litter, coming primarily from fishing vessels, is being collected, studied and, reappears as soon as the scientists leave. I tried to avoid trash in the pictures but this one has a scrap of a blue bag.
We were also told we were to remain within 5 meters of any wildlife and were not allowed to kneel, sit or lie down to take pictures. While complying with the latter, the first restriction proved impossible. Elephant seals were everywhere and often charging to spar with each other. Our job became not to be knocked over by rushing seals and/or not to trip over the sleeping ones. We were usually forewarned. Most seals continually gave loud snorts to rid themselves of nasal parasites, even when asleep. The remaining seemed to be constantly barking and roaring.
After traversing the gauntlet of seals, we hiked a mile, through a muddy, sub-polar, Beech Tree forest up to a multi-tiered waterfall.
Once back from our hike, we again made our way through the seals; to the zodiacs and; back to the boat. Finding my SIM card full, I sacrificed my photos of the Beech Forest for more seal shots.
This curious fellow followed me as I walked along the stream toward the beach grasses.
I really could not keep myself from taking more seal pictures.
Who can blame me?
