QUESTION:
Are tourists educated about the penguins before they are sent ashore
for a tour?  Tourists leave behind garbage...how do you prevent that?

        From Mrs. Squicciarini's 5th grade class in 
        West Babylon, Long Island, New York.



ANSWER from Dr. Bill Fraser, Ecologist,  Palmer Station, Antarctica
            Wed, 19 Feb 1997 16:43:48 -0500


Dear Fifth Graders and Mrs. Squicciarini,

Absolutely, most of the tour ships have very experienced guides
that educate tourists as to what to do and not do around
penguins.  Off course, there is always the "odd" incident in which
a tourist gets too close to a colony or something like that, but
for the most part tourists are very respectful of both human and
animal rules.

I have never seen a tourist leave behind any garbage on our
study sites.  I think you will find that garbage is the product
of a very few people; the majority respect animals and the
environment.

Thanks for your questions!
Bill