South Africa's move creates millions of happy campers. Oooh, how cute. FYI, hat tip to my friends at The Good News Network - who tipped us off to this great news.

South Africa has proclaimed a vast new marine protected area, spanning 180,000 square kilometres, around the Prince Edward Islands in the Southern Ocean. This has paved the way for increased conservation and protection of vulnerable species such as albatrosses, penguins, seals, and killer whales.

Minister of Environmental Affairs Marthinus van Schalkwyk gazetted the proposal in early May 2009. This followed a five-year planning process during which the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (Deat) worked closely with the local chapter of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to establish the framework for the valuable area.

Nothing beyond amazing, especially for the islands' inhabitants - including albatrosses, penguins, killer whales and seals. The area being protected is the size of Oklahoma in the USA - wow.

This will be South Africa's first off shore preserve - Prince Edward Islands - made up of the smaller Prince Edward Island and the larger Marion Island - is about 1,770 kilometers or about 950 nautical miles from mainland South Africa.

The preserve will be working closely with the WWF - The World Wildlife Fund and the South African counterpart - WWF - Sanlam Living Waters Partnership.

Sit back and watch this BBC video from one of the protected area's island's - Marion Island ... (For the faint of heart - please note - there is some fighting between seals and penguins)

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