--- title: "ACAP Breeding Site No. 54. Île de la Possession, Îles Crozet, home of l'Albatros hurleur" --- # ACAP Breeding Site No. 54. Île de la Possession, Îles Crozet, home of l'Albatros hurleur [Île de la Possession](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Ele_de_la_Possession) (Possession Island) with an area of about 150 km² is the largest of the five main islands in the French Îles Crozet in the southern Indian Ocean, and the only one inhabited by a transient human population.  The island is mountainous with deep valleys. Along with the other French island possessions in the Southern Ocean, the Crozets are administered by [TAAF](http://www.taaf.fr/) (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises).  The [Alfred Faure](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Faure) research station lies on the eastern side of the island, from which biological research on seabirds, including on the ACAP-listed Wandering Albatross or l'Albatros hurleur *Diomedea exulans*, is undertaken by [CNRS Chizé](http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/) biologists.  Activities ashore are controlled by a management plan with certain areas on the island declared to be *Sites réservés à la recherche scientifique et technique* with access for research purposes by permit only.  Unlike all the other Crozet Islands, Possession falls outside the *Réserve naturelle des Terres australes Françaises*. The Crozets form part of a large Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, the second in the Sub-Antarctic after South Africa’s Prince Edward Islands ([click here](http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-documents-list-annotated-ramsar-16400/main/ramsar/1-31-218^16400_4000_0)).  Additionally the island has been designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International ([click here](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=6897)). Twenty-six seabird species are known to breed on the island, including eight ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels as listed below with their most recent annual breeding numbers as given in the [ACAP Data Portal](https://data.acap.aq/). Wandering (355 pairs in 2013), Grey-headed T*halassarche chrysostoma* (10 pairs in 1981/2), *Sooty Phoebetria fusca* (84 pairs in 2012/13) and Light-mantled Sooty *P. palpebrata* (1095 pairs in 2012/13) Albatrosses, Northern *Macronectes halli* (485 pairs in 2012/13) and Southern *M. giganteus* (237 pairs in 2012/13) Giant Petrels and White-chinned *Procellaria aequinoctialis* (5783 pairs in 2003/04) and Grey *P. cinerea* Petrels. Black Rats *Rattus rattus* are present on Île de la Possession and are thought to have affected burrowing petrels.  [Click here](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/news-archive/57-2012-news-archive/205-bye-bye-moo-cows-and-bye-bye-mouflons-recent-conservation-and-restoration-efforts-at-the-french-sub-antarctic-islands) to read of French efforts to rid their southern islands of introduced mammals. ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Franck Theron _Champs des albatros s.jpg)  Situated a day’s hike from the research station, the Champs des albatros area supports approximately 140 annually breeding pairs of Wandering Albatrosses ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Franck Theron _Champs des albatrosCloudy weather s.jpg) Morning in the Jardin Japonais (Japanese Garden).  Giant petrels and Sooty and Grey-headed Albatrosses occur here ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Franck Theron _Champs des albatrosColony of sooty albatrosses s.jpg) A colony of Sooty Albatrosses breeds on the cliffs.  Wandering and Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses and both species of giant petrels breed in the vicinity ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Franck Theron _Champs des albatrosSouth giant petrel s.jpg) Southern Giant Petrels breed over much of the island with the largest numbers in the Jardin Japonais and Champs des albatros areas ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Franck Theron _Champs des albatrosWandering albatross at sunset s.jpg) A Wandering Albatross at sunset with Roche Percée in the background ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Franck Theron _Champs des albatrosWandering albatrosses in parade s.jpg) Displaying Wandering Albatrosses Read ACAP Breeding Site accounts for the other French sub-Antarctic islands: [Kerguelen](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/latest-news/1435-acap-breeding-site-no-39-iles-kerguelen-300-islands-supporting-10-acap-species), [Amsterdam](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/latest-news/1429-acap-breeding-sites-no-37-ileamsterdam-only-home-of-the-amsterdam-albatross) and [Saint-Paul](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/latest-news/1430-acap-breeding-site-no-38-ilesaint-paul-with-its-spectacular-flooded-crater). All photographs by Theron Franck. **Selected References:** Catard, A. 2001.  [French Southern Territories](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/userfiles/file/IBAs/AfricaCntryPDFs/French_Southern_Territories.pdf).  In: Fishpool, L.D.C. & Evans. M.I. (Eds).  *Important Bird Areas in Africa and Associated Islands: Priority Sites for Conservation*.  Newbury: Pisces Publications & Cambridge: BirdLife International.  pp. 337-347. Duriez, O. & Delord, K. 2012.  Manchots, petrels et albatross: oiseaux des Terres australes et antarctiques françaises (TAAF).  [*Ornithos* 19-3: 162-183.](http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/publipdf/2012/DO19_2012.pdf) Duriez, O., Jornvaal, H. & Shirihai, H. 2005.  Birds and wildlife of the French sub-Antarctic islands: Crozet, Kerguelen and Amsterdam & St Paul.  [*Dutch Birding* 27: 87-115](http://www.dutchbirding.nl/journal.php?id=158). Headland, R.K. 2012.  History of exotic terrestrial mammals in Antarctic regions.  [*Polar Record*  48: 123-144](http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8503231). Ministère de l'Écologie et du Développement Durable 2008.  [*Décret No. 2006-1211 du 3 octobre 2006 portant creation de la reserve naturelle des Terres australes françaises*](http://www.taaf.fr/IMG/pdf/d-2006-1211-2.pdf).  Journal Officiel de la République Française.  4 octobre 2006.  4 pp. Pisanu, B., Caut, S., Gutjahr S., Vernon, P. & Chapuis, J.-L. 2011.  Introduced black rats (*Rattus rattus*) on Ile de la Possession (Iles Crozet, Subantarctic): diet and trophic position in food webs.  [*Polar Biology* 34: 169-180](http://www.springerlink.com/content/dg066817363p5gg1/). Shirihai, H. 2007.  *A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife.  The Birds and Marine Mammals of the Antarctic Continent and the Southern Ocean*.  Second Edition.  London: A & C Black.  pp. 466-470. TAAF 2006.  *Instructions sur la protection de l'environnement dans les Terres australes antarctiques françaises*.  Saint-Pierre: Terres australes et antarctiques françaises.  9 pp. TAAF 2010. * [Plan de gestion 2011 - 2015 Réserve naturelle des Terres australes françaises](http://www.taaf.fr/IMG/pdf/telechargez_la_synthese_du_plan_de_gestion_20112015_de_la_reserve.pdf)*.  Saint Pierre, La Réunion: Terres australes et antarctiques françaises.  35 pp. *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer & Theron *Franck*, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, France, 06 December 2013*