Gough Island is a remote volcanic sanctuary fighting to save its unique seabird population.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Deep in the South Atlantic lies Gough Island, a rugged, uninhabited volcanic outpost that serves as one of the world's most vital seabird colonies. Despite its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this fragile ecosystem faces an existential threat from invasive house mice that are decimating native bird populations.

Located over 2,400 km from South Africa, Gough Island is a remote dependency of Tristan da Cunha. Since 1956, the South African National Antarctic Programme has maintained a weather station on the island, ensuring a constant human presence. The island is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also includes nearby Inaccessible Island, recognized for its role as a critical breeding ground for millions of seabirds, including the Tristan albatross and the Atlantic petrel.

The island's history is marked by confusion and discovery. While Portuguese explorer Gonçalo Álvares likely sighted the island in 1505, it was later misidentified and renamed after Captain Charles Gough, who rediscovered it in 1732. By the 19th century, sealing crews introduced house mice to the island. These mice have since grown unusually large and, as research published in 2007 revealed, they prey on seabird chicks at a scale that threatens several species with extinction, with an estimated 2,000,000 fewer eggs and chicks surviving annually.

Conservation efforts have been intense but difficult. A £9.2 million eradication project, which utilized helicopters to drop rodenticide, was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually deemed a failure in December 2021 after a mouse was spotted post-operation. Despite this setback, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds remains committed to future restoration attempts. Meanwhile, the island continues to serve as a vital meteorological outpost, with overwintering teams arriving annually from Cape Town to monitor the South Atlantic's volatile weather patterns.

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