Humans and canines on the frozen continent: An examination of the relationship between explorers of the heroic era of Antarctica and their sledge dogs

• Main Author: DIANA MARY PATTERSON
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: Monash University 2019
• Subjects: History; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.26180/5d5c83e959288; https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/Humans_and_canines_on_the_frozen_continent_An_examination_of_the_relationship_between_explorers_of_the_heroic_era_of_Antarctica_and_their_sledge_dogs/9696437

In this research, a series of case studies of heroic era (1898 to 1917) Antarctic exploration parties which included sledge dogs were examined. Eight expedition parties were investigated with a focus that accorded the sledge dogs status as actual, and reciprocating, historical actors alongside the men. The findings illuminate the seemingly contradictory roles of the sledge dogs; as expendable commodities, co-workers, shipmates and companions. Polar exploration is shown to provide an exceptional circumstance in which to examine the complexity of trans-species emotional relationships. The research contributes to the growing field of animal-human histories, and to polar historiography.