Sled Dogs in Antarctica

Equipped with a thick fur coat, strong body, tough feet, persistent spirit, abundant energy, and a loyal heart of gold, sled dogs have historically been used by explorers to efficiently haul heavy loads across the vast, icy landscape of Antarctica, one of the harshest environments on Earth. In the early years of polar exploration, sled dogs were essential for allowing human travelers to go where ships could not. However, as Antarctica became a more frequented location, conservation efforts became increasingly necessary, and non-native canines were eventually banned from Antarctica by passing the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.

When only essential supplies could be carried, and every piece of equipment served a purpose, the choice among so many early polar explorers to bring large teams of sled dogs speaks to the importance and usefulness of these working animals. For example, in 1898, Carsten Borchgrevink and his team of explorers were accompanied by approximately seventy sled dogs as they set off on the first land expedition in Antarctica. Some sources say that the explorers, weary from many days of travel in the frigid wasteland, relied on the dogs for warmth when huddled in a large tent surrounded by their furry companions. In 1902, explorers Ole Jonassen, Otto Nordenskjold, and Jose Sobral were assisted by sled dogs as they traveled nearly four hundred miles during one leg of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition.

While dogs were not the only option for transportation, they proved to be the most reliable. Robert Scott of England chose to bring ponies and motorized vehicles with him in 1910 as he attempted to be the first to reach the South Pole. However, the machines broke down, and Scott quickly found that the ponies were not adept at navigating the deep snow and rough terrain. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, accompanied by a trusty team of sled dogs and following a different route, raced to close Scott’s lead and successfully became the first to reach the South Pole in 1911. Another polar explorer, Ernest Shackleton, had previously tried to use ponies as well but preferred sled dogs during his famous Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition from 1914 to 1917.

As the snowmobile development advanced, working dogs became less critical for those who wished to venture across polar regions. Despite this, sled dogs continued to be kept at scientific research bases in Antarctica because these canine freight teams had several advantages over modern modes of transportation. Like their wolf ancestors, sled dogs have a keen sense of navigation, which is invaluable when crossing new territory. There have been many stories of sled dog teams bravely leading their handlers through blizzard conditions or remembering a trail after only having visited once before.

Another advantage canines have over snowmobiles is their natural hunting instinct and ability to be nourished by locally available food sources such as seals. Furthermore, expensive mechanical equipment tends to fail in harsh environments, but sled dogs are well-equipped to handle Antarctica’s cold weather and challenging terrain. Perhaps the most noteworthy reason sled dogs remained in Antarctica is their ability to boost morale and provide companionship for the explorers and scientists living in such a remote and challenging place.

While sled dogs have a long history of guiding adventurers from all corners of the world across Antarctica’s frigid and unforgiving lands, this tradition eventually ended. With technological improvements and increasing resources directed toward research, visiting Antarctica became more attainable and popular. The international community recognized a need to preserve the fragile Antarctic environment and minimize the impact of human activities in the area, which led to the creation of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.

In 1994, Annex II to the Environmental Protocol was added to address Antarctic fauna and flora protection specifically. Article four of Annex II begins: “No species of living organisms not native to the Antarctic Treaty area shall be introduced onto land or ice shelves, or into water, in the Antarctic Treaty area except by a permit. Dogs shall not be introduced onto land, ice shelves, or sea ice.”

This provision banning sled dogs from being used by explorers and research teams in Antarctica was adopted to prevent any illnesses the dogs may carry from harming the native wildlife. After the passing of Annex II, sled dogs were slowly phased out from camps in Antarctica and are no longer used in the area today. While the tradition of sled dogs in Antarctica has ceased, the legacy of these dogs will be forever memorialized in historic photos, journals, books, and even statues because even in a place as desolate as Antarctica, dogs continue to be man’s best friend.