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| credit: patagoniaproject.com |
A rugged peninsula in Argentina's Patagonia region has been declared by UNESCO to be a biosphere reserve. Peninsula Valdés on the Atlantic coast has the largest breeding colony of southern sea elephants in the world. The haven also supports 70,000 pairs of Magellanic penguins, over 10,000 sea lions, 4,000 southern right whales, and 4,000 guanacos, a relative of the llama. The area is threatened by three nearby large cities and uncontrolled access by humans using off-road vehicles. The new reserve was declared last month in Sweden by the biosphere coordinating committee. It covers four million acres included a previously unprotected area known as Punta Ninfas. Wildlife Conservation Society began working in the 60s to protect the Peninsula, recognized as one of the most prolific wildlife habitats on the entire Patagonian coast. The orcas of Valdés are world famous for their unique seal pup hunting technique in which they surf
[photo] and risk beaching themselves to snag pups who get too close to the waves.
