Above picture:  HRH the Duke of Edinburgh accepts three books on the Prince Edward Islands from Mark Anderson in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland

Mark Anderson, BirdLife South Africa CEO and Chairperson of the Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project Management Committee, undertook a five-day fund- and profile- raising trip on behalf of the Project to the United Kingdom in late May this year.  His trip commenced in London by attending a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace hosted by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on the 21st, but sadly affected by rain throughout the event.  He then travelled by train to Edinburgh in Scotland, where he stayed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse as a guest of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.  The Duke is the Royal Patron of the MFM Project.  Marion Island and nearby Prince Edward Island were named as the “Prince Edward Isles” after the Duke’s sixth-generation ancestor and namesake, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (and Queen Victoria’s father), by the British explorer Captain James Cook in 1776.

The front facade of the Palace of Holyroodhouse

During his overnight stay in the palace, Mark held a one-on-one discussion with the Duke about the MFM Project.  He also presented the Duke with three books on Marion and Prince Edward Islands that had been donated by their publisher, the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa.  In thanking Mark for the books, he said he would enjoy looking through them.  The other guests at the Palace were mainly members of the clergy who were interested to hear about the Project.  One of the guests has subsequently decided to join next year’s Flock to Marion AGAIN 2025! voyage.

 

The three books on the Prince Edward Islands presented to the Duke of Edinburgh; photograph by John Cooper

The Duchess of Edinburgh told Mark that she and the Duke had enjoyed hearing about the breeding Wandering Albatrosses that are being monitored in a long-term study colony on Marion Island from information given to her by Brigadier Alex Potts, the Duke’s Private Secretary.

Wandering Albatross pair G18 in the Goney Plain study colony on Marion Island. The smaller female (left) is incubating on the nest as the male crouches on the nest edge; photograph by Michelle Risi

Following these royal events, Mark met with current and prospective BirdLife South Africa and MFM Project donors in London.  A promise of a £5000 donation to the MFM Project was then secured from a couple with South African connections.  Summing up his trip Mark Anderson said “I am honoured to be a part of the Mouse-Free Marion Project, and to speak to people about the importance of what I consider to be one of the world’s most important conservation projects.  It is encouraging to engage with people, such as the Duke of Edinburgh, and hear their interest in and support of the project.”

Thanks to Ria Olivier, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, and Brigadier Alex Potts, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Private Secretary.

John Cooper, News Correspondent, Mouse-Free Marion Project, 16 July 2024

**************************************************************************

Two Wandering Albatrosses display in the evening light on Marion Island; photograph by Sean Evans and poster design by Michelle Risi

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.