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For 50 years
from 1944 until 1994 the Husky was the main form of Antarctic transport.
They are fantastic animals who possess an insatiable drive to pull
and to travel and were never happier than when running as a team
in front of a fast moving sledge. A good team of 9 dogs would travel
30 miles in a day pulling a sledge with a load of over 1000lbs.
They are large and demanding animals and have a permanent desire
to fight amongst themselves. They are not naturally vicious but,
like their ancestors the wolf, they have to exert their authority
and maintain their position in the pack. Towards humans they were
always overwhelmingly friendly and playful. |
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A few typical examples of the 'Antarctic husky', originated from the true 'Eskimo husky' from Arctic Canada and Greenland, and a descendant of the wolf. An exceptionally hardy dog with a stocky build, a dense inner fur and a coarse outer coat that allowed it to survive in the most hostile conditions. A strictly controlled breeding programme was operated on the base and every dog had a record kept of its history from the day of its birth. This included its annual weight checks, medical and breeding history and its behavioural traits and sledging performance.  |
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Puppies were lovingly cared for and provided hours of amusement to all on base. Once weaned they were fed special feeds and copious amounts of cod liver oil, of which they always smelled! They ran loose around the base for many months until old enough to be join their parents on the traces. They were for ever trying to get into the living quarters, but were firmly discouraged. Huskies are working dogs and are not house trained in any respect! |
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 Like father like son! |
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Whilst the adult dogs were weighed at least once a year, quite a performance in itself when some of them weighed in at 100lbs, the pups had their weight checked weekly for the first few months. |
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| In
1991, under pressure from environmentalists, and in the never ending
quest for political correctness, a new clause was incorporated into
the Antarctic Treaty and it was decreed that "Dogs shall not
be introduced onto land or ice shelves and dogs currently in those
areas shall be removed by April 1 1994". In his foreword to the book "Of Dogs and Men" by Kevin Walton and Rick Atkinson, HRH the Prince of Wales sums up the feelings of everyone who has ever lived alongside these wonderful animals with the following words:- "The departure of the last remaining huskies from Antarctica marks the end of an era . . . . . It will always be difficult for those who have not shared the experience to understand the pure delight of driving behind dogs and being utterly dependent on them for life itself . . . ." |
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 All photographs are scans from personally owned slides
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