The enigma of guanacos in the Falkland Islands: the legacy of John Hamilton

• Published in: Journal of Biogeography
• Main Authors: Franklin, William L., Grigione, Melissa M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2005
• Subjects: Argentina; Gallegos; Patagonia; South Atlantic Ocean
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2004.01220.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2699.2004.01220.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2004.01220.x

Abstract Aim To address the biogeographical enigma of why guanacos ( Lama guanicoe ) are in the Falkland Islands we investigated the following questions: (1) What was the origin of the introduced guanacos? (2) What were the initial population sizes? (3) Why are they found only on one island? and (4) Who was John Hamilton and what role did he play? Location The Falkland Islands are located in the South Atlantic Ocean 600 km east of Patagonia at the southern end of South America. While dominated by East and West Falkland Islands, the archipelago is composed of some 750 islands. Sedge and Staats Islands, two small outlying islands of West Falkland, are the focus of this paper. Methods Historical information was collected from known relevant documents housed at the Falkland Islands Government Archives in Stanley, and personal interviews conducted with past and present residents of West Falklands. Research expeditions were made to Staats Island in 1999, 2002 and 2003 to assess the guanaco population size, distribution and social structure. Results Guanacos were unsuccessfully introduced in 1862 to East Falkland south of Mt Pleasant where Prince Alfred hunted them in 1871. John Hamilton, Scottish immigrant to the Falklands and Patagonia of southern Argentina and Chile, was the driving force in the introduction of guanacos from the region of Rio Gallegos, Argentina during the 1930s. The guanaco was one of several wildlife species he introduced, however, only the guanaco, Patagonia grey fox ( Dusicyon griseus ) and perhaps the sea otter ( Lutra felina ) survive. Hamilton's acting agent, Jimmy Miller, imported four shipments totalling 26 guanacos from 1934 to 1939. In 1934 the Falkland Government authorized Miller to introduce guanacos to Sedge Island, all 11 of which disappeared. Whether intentional or accidental, 15 guanacos were taken to Staats Island, an islet of 500 ha on the western edge of the archipelago. Historically, guanacos are unexpected on Staats Island because documentation authorizing their introduction ...