BirdLife International has joined forces with artist, writer and printmaker, Bruce Pearson, in a bid to Save The Albatross in the Southern Ocean, which is under serious threat of extinction.

Bruce Pearson, who has a life-long fascination with the sea and seabirds and who has travelled a number of times across the Southern Oceans, will be the ‘artist in residence’ on an extensive 18-night wildlife expedition from 22 November to 10 December 2013 to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, with polar cruise specialist, One Ocean Expeditions.

During the expedition, which is aimed at those interested in the opportunity to visit one of the world’s last remote wildernesses and to witness first hand the wandering, black browed, grey headed and light mantled sooty albatross, Bruce will give presentations and hold drawing and painting workshops both on board and ashore.
 

He comments:  “Seabirds, notably albatrosses, have become increasingly threatened over the past 20 years, and at a faster rate globally than any other species of birds.  The threats are many and varied, but the most critical problem is the hundreds of thousands of birds snared accidentally as by-catch on long-line fishing vessels.” 

Among the international efforts to reverse the decline in numbers, the work of BirdLife International’s Save the Albatross campaign and Albatross Task Force has resulted in a substantial reduction in seabird mortality.  However, unregulated fishing interests still operating beyond the reach of international treaties and boundaries continue to place 18 of the 22 species of albatross at risk of global extinction.  According to Birdlife International, an estimated 100,000 albatrosses are being killed each year due to long-line fishing – that’s one every five minutes. 

Accommodation during the voyage is on board the impressive ice-strengthened ship, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, which has been designed for Polar research and has the comfort and safety of passengers as its first priority.  Features include a massage room, hot water spa, sauna, salt water plunge pool, plus top deck observation lounge, dining room, library and theatre style presentation room.

The adventure cruise departs from Ushuaia in Argentina, and prices start from £8249 per person on a twin share basis and from £7219pp for a triple share cabin. This includes all meals and accommodation plus Zodiac excursions and landings, workshops with Bruce Pearson, special hiking programmes, ship transfers and foul weather gear. Price excludes flights UK-Ushuaia, available from £999.

UK tour operator, WildWings, will make a donation equivalent to 5% of the voyage price to the Birdlife International ‘Save the Albatross Campaign’ (administered in the UK by the RSPB) for each passenger who books on this special voyage with Bruce Pearson.

For further details visit www.wildwings.co.uk/afsgbrucepearson.html

Notes:

1) The voyage is operated by One Ocean Expeditions www.oneoceanexpeditions.com.

2) For further press information, contact Debra Taylor on debra@toucanmoon.com, tel: 01491 613424 or 07956 852197.