Man Took Four Cows To Antarctica, But He Was Concealing A Strange Ulterior Motive
Expeditions to Antarctica are treacherous and potentially deadly endeavors even today. But back in the 1930s, they were even more perilous. Naturally, when Richard E. Byrd set off for the frozen continent in 1933, he’d have wanted to make his journey as safe and simple as possible. So why on Earth did he complicate matters by bringing along a bunch of lumbering cows?
Risky business
This was Byrd’s second trip to Antarctica, so maybe he was just feeling confident? Still, it seems like an unnecessary risk for an explorer to take on such a dangerous journey. Cows aren’t exactly known for their excursions into frozen deserts, so why bring them along? There must have been some logic.
The bigger picture
As it happens, Byrd had plenty of reasons for taking the cows to Antarctica. On the one hand, taking the animals delivered some very practical benefits to the crew. But beyond that, Byrd was motivated by a much bigger picture. He saw that bringing along these farmyard animals had very real geopolitical ramifications.
Facing danger
Regardless of any perceived advantages to bringing along the bovines, though, the obvious risks must surely have given Byrd pause for thought. Then again, the man was used to staring danger in the face. So much of his life had already been defined by diving right into intense and perilous experiences.
Navy pilot
Byrd had previously been in the Navy, where he had trained as a pilot. He went on to serve in World War I, illustrating his incredible navigation skills that would stand him in good stead for his later career as an explorer. In 1924 he was sent to fly over the icy landscape of Greenland; it was an experience which he adored.
