Above picture:  A Vulnerable Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans on Prion Island, South Georgia.  On Marion Island, a quarter of the world population of these magnificent albatrosses is threatened by House Mice; photograph by Laurie Smaglick Johnson

The Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds: The Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project’s “Double your Donation” appeal in June this year resulted in 220 hectares being sponsored to help save the island’s threatened albatrosses and petrels.  Indeed, the original 110 ha from two donors was matched before halfway through the month.  Inspired by the successful appeal, wildlife conservation photographer, writer and author and project supporter Laurie Smaglick Johnson decided to run her own matching appeal during the same month.  She generously committed to sponsoring 50 ha and then issued a challenge to her relatives and closest friends to match her donation to mark World Albatross Day on 19 June.  Twenty-six had responded by the end of the month, resulting in a total sponsorship of 124 ha on behalf of John & Laurie Smaglick Johnson Friends & Family.  This places Laurie’s appeal in the prestigious Wandering Albatross category on the project’s Honour Roll, joining just 23 other members who have sponsored 100 ha or more.

Laurie Smaglick Johnson in South Georgia

On completion of her appeal, Laurie wrote to her supporters saying “THANK YOU to all of you once again.  I cannot begin to say this enough.  You have chosen to become involved in a conservation intervention that will literally change the world.”

The MFM Project thanks John & Laurie Smaglick Johnson Friends & Family who have so generously given their support.  As of 7 July 2025, 2326 individual sponsorships have funded 12 173 ha.  At 40.6% of target, there is still a long way to go, so please consider sponsoring a hectare or more and becoming part of a project that aims to restore a sub-Antarctic island by eradicating it’s albatross-killing House Mice.

 

John Cooper, News Correspondent, Mouse-Free Marion Project, 29 July 2025

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Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche carteri in flight on the Flock to Marion AGAIN! 2025 voyage in January 2025, photograph by Laurie Smaglick Johnson

The Mouse-Free Marion Project is a registered non-profit company (No. 2020/922433/08) in South Africa, established to eradicate the invasive albatross-killing mice on Marion Island in the Southern Ocean.  The project was initiated by BirdLife South Africa and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.  Upon successful completion, the project will restore the critical breeding habitat of over two million seabirds, many globally threatened, and improve the island’s resilience to a warming climate.  For more information or to support the project please visit mousefreemarion.org