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View the Wildlife
Home » Falkland Islands » Falkland Islands - Activities and Attractions » View the WildlifeThere are many places on the islands to see large amounts of penguins, others birds, and marine animals. You can get close to many but you are not allowed to touch any of the wildlife.
To see the home of breeding king penguins, you will want to go to Volunteer Beach from Port Louis. This is the largest colony in the islands. If you walk to Volunteer Point, look out in the water to see fur seals and on your way back you can go to Volunteer Lagoon to see the elephant seals.
Smaller Islands to Visit to View Wildlife
Sea Lion Island
This is the most southerly inhabited island in the Falklands. The resident population is only 4. It is only 5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. Sea Island has a spectacular display of wildlife which includes elephant seals, sea lions, rockhopper, gentoo, magellanic and macaroni penguins, striated and crested caracaras and many kinds of shore and sea birds. You can also spot orcas or killer whales offshore.
Saunders Island
This 30,000-acre island located 3 miles off the northwest coast of West Falkland is still a sheep farm and is also important historically as it was the site of the first British settlement in 1765. What attracts visitors is the black-browed albatross colony which stretches along the north coast, referred to as the Neck, since it is a narrow sandy isthmus between two higher parts of the island.
Wildlife enthusiasts and photographers come here to see the gentoo, rockhopper, magellanic, and rare sighting of macaroni and chinstrap penguins. A small breeding colony of king penguins has become established since 1980. Four species of raptors, black-browed albatross, king and rock cormorants, black-necked swans and many other types of shore birds can be seen from the settlement or from other places on the island.
Carcass Island
The most notable fact about this island is that in over 100 years of habitation, this island has had only three owners. Each of them has been environmentally conscious and none of them has had cats or rats. This is immediately evident when you visit this unique island. There are many kinds of shoreline birds, penguins, and seals, all within walking distance. You will find a colony of night herons, magellanic penguins and other small birds in the colony itself. You can also take a Land Rover over to the Northwest where you will find elephant seals.
Pebble Island
Pebble Island is 24 miles long and is also primarily a sheep farm. The only settlement on the island, which includes Pebble Island Lodge, is located on a narrow piece of land near a sandy beach. The lodge, which was formerly the farm manager’s home, allows you to experience life in a traditional Falkland farmhouse while also being very comfortable as well. The island’s mountainous western area differs greatly than the wetland plains on the eastern side. Here you will find Falkland’s most important wildfowl breeding areas. These diverse areas of Pebble Island are home to 42 resident bird species. It is notably the only place in the Falklands where six species of penguin occur regularly: the breeding gentoos, magellanics, rockhoppers, visiting kings, macaronis, and an erect-crested. Southern sea lions can also be seen around the coast.
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