The whale catcher ship Petrel on display at the abandoned and recently restored whaling station at Grytviken, South Georgia, UK Overseas Protectorate

Bowhead whale skull (Balaena mysticetus) at the abandoned Kekerten Island whaling station, Nunavut, Canada, North America

An endemic adult South Georgia pintail, Anas georgica, at the whale station in Grytviken, South Georgia Island, Atlantic Ocean

Remains of the abandoned whale station in Port Foster, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Remains of the abandoned whale station in Port Foster, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Old whale bones in the beach near the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Abandoned whale shore processing station, Talknafjorour, Iceland, Polar Regions

Abandoned whale shore processing station, Talknafjorour, Iceland, Polar Regions

Abandoned whale shore processing station, Talknafjorour, Iceland, Polar Regions

Views of the abandoned whale processing station at Whalers Bay on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Views of the abandoned whale processing station at Whalers Bay on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

The old whaling station at Grytviken on South Georgia. In its 58 years of operation, it handled 53,761 slaughtered whales, producing 455,000 tons of whale oil and 192,000 tons of whale meat.

The old whaling station at Grytviken on South Georgia. In its 58 years of operation, it handled 53,761 slaughtered whales, producing 455,000 tons of whale oil and 192,000 tons of whale meat.

An abandoned whaling boat with a harpoon on its bow at the old whaling station at Grytviken on South Georgia. In its 58 years of operation, it handled 53,761 slaughtered whales, producing 455,000 tons of whale oil and 192,000 tons of whale meat.

Whaling museum (showing female humpback whale fetus taken from dead mother) at the Grytviken Whaling Station on South Georgia Island, Southern Atlantica Ocean

Weathered whale vertebrae on Jougla Point near the old British Whaling Station at Port Lockroy on Weincke Island, Antarctica.

Beluga grave yard at an old whaling station on Spitsbergen. Svalbard.

Upper and lower jaw bones (+ one rib) of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) at an old whaling station. BBC Broadcaster John Craven for scale. Snaefellsness Peninsular, Iceland.

Weathered whale vertebrae on Jougla Point near the old British Whaling Station at Port Lockroy on Weincke Island, Antarctica.

Upper and lower jaw bones (+ one rib) of a blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) at an old whaling station. Snaefellsness Peninsular, Iceland.

Cemetery. Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia. Grytviken is open to visitors, but most walls and roofs of the factory have been demolished for safety reasons. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Wreck of the Bayard in Ocean Harbour a whaling station in South Georgia, with a colony of South Georgia Shag (Phalacrocorax georgianus). Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Ruins of the whaling station Ocean Harbour in South Georgia. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Ruins of Stromness Whaling Station in South Georgia, sign to ban access to the station. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

The former Flensing Plan. Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia. Grytviken is open to visitors, but most walls and roofs of the factory have been demolished for safety reasons. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Wreck with Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) on the former Flensing Plan. Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia. Grytviken is open to visitors, but most walls and roofs of the factory have been demolished for safety reasons. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Ruins of Stromness Whaling Station in South Georgia Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Wreck of the Dias in Grytviken. Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia. Grytviken is open to visitors, but most walls and roofs of the factory have been demolished for safety reasons. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Ruins of the whaling station Ocean Harbour in South Georgia. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

The Petrel a whale catcher. Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia. Grytviken is open to visitors, but most walls and roofs of the factory have been demolished for safety reasons. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

The Petrel a whale catcher. Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia. Grytviken is open to visitors, but most walls and roofs of the factory have been demolished for safety reasons. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Wreck of the Bayard in Ocean Harbour a whaling station in South Georgia, with a colony of South Georgia Shag (Phalacrocorax georgianus). Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Wreck of a small ship. Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia. Grytviken is open to visitors, but most walls and roofs of the factory have been demolished for safety reasons. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

The church. Grytviken Whaling Station in South Georgia. Grytviken is open to visitors, but most walls and roofs of the factory have been demolished for safety reasons. Antarctica, Subantarctica, South Georgia, October

Tall rusting metal whale oil tanks at the former whaling station on Deception Island, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

The tall sides of rusting metal whale oil tanks at the former whaling station on Deception Island, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica