An abandoned Australian station in Antarctica is leaking pollutants, threatening the local ecosystem, a French inspection team says.
Jano Gibson reports for ABC News.
In short:
- The abandoned Wilkes Station, 3,000 km from Australia, has rusted fuel drums, asbestos-riddled buildings,and other buried waste.
- A French inspection team found oil slicks and reported that the site poses a significant pollution risk to marine environments.
- Australia is using drones and radar to assess contamination and develop a clean-up strategy.
Key quote:
"The presence of buildings partially or completely covered, along with waste and contaminants of various kinds and in significant quantities, poses a clear risk to the Antarctic environment."
— French inspection report.
Why this matters:
Antarctica, often seen as one of the last untouched wildernesses, is home to unique species and critical ecosystems that are exceptionally vulnerable to pollution. The contaminants from Wilkes Station can accumulate in the food web, affecting everything from krill to larger marine animals like seals and whales. These disruptions can have cascading effects, potentially altering the delicate balance of this ecosystem.
