Saddleback Point, Elephant Island (29430)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Saddleback Point, Elephant Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -61.1019, Longitude: -54.9072
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 0.56793
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Saddleback Point is located on the northern coast of Elephant Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the concentration of seabirds present (in particular Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica)) and comprises an ice free headland extending ~1 km offshore, several km to the west of Point Wild. No information is available on the environment specific to the area around Saddleback Point. See ANT032 for more information on the general features, vegetation and meteorology of Elephant Island. There are no research stations in the vicinity, with the nearest ~205 km to the southwest at King George Island.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Approximately 10 250 pairs of Chinstrap Penguin were recorded breeding at Saddleback Point in 1971 (Croxall & Kirkwood 1979). See IBA ANT032 for information on other birds observed in the Elephant Island area. Non-bird biodiversity: Naveen (2003) reported that Antarctic Fur Seals (Arctocephalus gazella) and Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) regularly haul-out on rocky beaches at Point Wild, 2 km to the east of Saddleback Point.
Delineation rationale: If ice-free area is ≤ 5 km2 then ice-free area is used as boundary.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: Croxall, J.P. & Kirkwood, E.D. 1979. The distribution of penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula and Islands of the Scotia Sea. British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge. Naveen, R. 2003. Compendium of Antarctic Peninsula visitor sites (2nd edition): A Report to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Oceanites, Chevy Chase, MD.