This British charity is searching for people to help them count penguins in Antarctica

Amy O'Neill

Love penguins and spending time by yourself? This UK charity is looking for someone to run the world's most remote post office...

The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust is recruiting a team of five to maintain the Port Lockroy base in Antarctica, where you'll be responsible for counting penguins.

The only downside is that there's no running water.

But who needs it right....?

A painting of the Port Locroy base in Antarctica surrounded by penguins

The UKAHT is responsible for preserving historic buildings and artefacts in Antarctica, with Port Lockroy being the first British base to be established in Antarctica and was fully operational as a research base from 1944 to 1962.

Nowadays, though, it's primarily used as a post office and museum.

Successful applicants have to have a good level of physical fitness, environmental awareness and knowledge of minimum impact living. They'll be based together on Goudier Island in the Antarctic Peninsula, where they'll be tasked with running the gift shop and post office, as well as counting the members of the local Gentoo penguin colony as part of the charity's efforts to protect the population. 

 

'Pack your bags and go - it's magical'

Lauren Elliott, one of the postmasters who went to Port Lockroy for the job in 2019, told the BBC that it is "the most magical place in the world" and urges intrepid explorers to get their bags packed.

The base has had a quiet two years, with Covid-19 restrictions limiting its visitors, which means the lucky five will be the first people to visit the site since Elliot's 2019 crew. If you're hoping to be one of them, then you should submit your resume via the UKAHT website before the deadline on Monday 25 April.

If you're selected, you'll spend a week's training in Cambridge this October, before leaving for Antarctica later in the year, where you'll live and work alongside the penguins until March 2023.

Don't forget your ski boots while you're at it.