The SA Agulhas II arrives at Marion Island for the 2021 relief voyage. PHOTO CREDIT: Nico de Bruyn

The new overwintering team M78 has arrived on Marion Island!

For these team members, like our killer whale researcher Danielle Conry, this moment has not only been a life-long dream but also one that has been filled with uncertainty over the last year due to the restrictions (and almost entire halting of the 2020/2021 scientific programme on Marion Island) caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After two weeks in quarantine in Cape Town and a few negative COVID tests later, Danielle and her team mates now finally get to enjoy the freedoms and adventures of Marion Island. Danielle joins up with her experienced sealer team mates Yinhla Shihlomule and Frikkie van der Vyver (who were part of the greatly reduced scientific voyage in September 2020) and they will now show her the ropes (and hopefully some mires) associated with the MIMMP field work.

A big welcome to our MIMMP team for the 2021/2022 overwintering period!