A War, 30,000 Mines, and an Unlikely Sanctuary
Around 30,000 land mines were laid across the Falkland Islands by Argentine forces during their 1982 invasion. While intended to stop British troops, the fenced-off areas instead became accidental sanctuaries for penguins and native plants, untouched by humans.
Decades of Silence Behind Fences
Initial demining after the war was halted in 1983 following accidents that caused injuries and deaths. The minefields were left undisturbed, clearly marked and mapped. Penguins, being too light to trigger the devices, thrived alongside regrowing native vegetation.
Treaty Obligations and the Return of Deminers
After the UK signed the 1997 Ottawa Treaty, it became obligated to clear all mines. Demining restarted in 2009, with over 100 Zimbabwean deminers manually clearing dangerous terrain. Most mines were removed by hand, with sifting machinery used in harder areas like Yorke Bay.
The Final Blast and Unexpected Discoveries
The final mines were cleared in November 2020, ending a £44 million effort. Yorke Bay, once heavily mined, was declared safe and opened to the public. Some Falklanders feared ecological loss, but tourism and access returned. In 2024, three missed mines were found and removed.
