Marine cadets, Bounty Islands

Marine cadets, Bounty Islands

Three of the four New Zealand species of crested penguin breed only on remote subantarctic islands which since the sealing days are only occasionally visited by people. These maritime cadets are sailing aboard the training ship Amokura. From 1907 to 1918 the vessel made annual excursions to the island groups in the turbulent southern seas to provide the cadets with rough-weather experience. The density of seabirds on these bare rocks is astonishing. The Snares, Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes and Bounty islands are now nature or scientific reserves, and since 1998 have been listed as World Heritage Sites in recognition of their outstanding diversity of flora and fauna.