Wildlife
One of the main interest of the base is the study of wildlife, notably the Emperor Penguins.
In the summer, the rocks near the base serve as a refuge for the Adélie Penguin which comes here to reproduce. Skua, Snow Petrel, Giant Petrel, Cape Petrel also spend the summer near the base.
In the winter, only Emperor Penguins are staying to reproduce. However, around August, Giant Petrels are coming back to feed on Emperor Penguin chicks.
Some marine animals are equally present despite the negative temperature of the water.
Among the rare visitors of the archipel, we can spot other species of penguins, killer whales, and rorquals.
Read more about this topic: Dumont D'Urville Station
Famous quotes containing the word wildlife:
“Russian forests crash down under the axe, billions of trees are dying, the habitations of animals and birds are layed waste, rivers grow shallow and dry up, marvelous landscapes are disappearing forever.... Man is endowed with creativity in order to multiply that which has been given him; he has not created, but destroyed. There are fewer and fewer forests, rivers are drying up, wildlife has become extinct, the climate is ruined, and the earth is becoming ever poorer and uglier.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)