Get Paid to Count Penguins: Antarctic Job Offers Up to Tk 350,000 a Month

Imagine working on a remote, ice-covered island, surrounded by freezing winds, cloudy skies and hundreds of penguins. There is no city noise or daily rush. Instead, the job involves counting penguins, welcoming tourists, stamping postcards and managing a historic base in the icy wilderness. It may sound like something out of a fairy tale, but such a job opportunity really exists in Antarctica. The most attractive part is the salary, which can range from approximately Tk 250,000 to Tk 350,000 a month.

The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT), a British organisation, recruits a small team every year to work during the Antarctic summer season. The team usually consists of four to five people, with Port Lockroy serving as their workplace.

Port Lockroy is located on Goudier Island in the Palmer Archipelago of Antarctica. The small island, roughly the size of a football field, is covered with rocks and ice. A British military base was established there in 1944 as part of Operation Tabarin during the Second World War. The base closed in 1962 and was restored and reopened nearly 30 years later. Today, it is a historic site protected under the Antarctic Treaty System. The island has a small museum, a gift shop and a penguin post office, known as the world's southernmost operational post office.

Thousands of tourists visit Port Lockroy aboard cruise ships between November and March each year. The recruited staff are responsible for welcoming visitors, explaining the history of the base, managing the museum and gift shop, and operating the post office. They also have to sort and stamp more than 80,000 postcards during each season.

One of the most unusual responsibilities is monitoring and counting gentoo penguins. According to UKAHT, around 1,000 penguins live on the island and have been inhabiting the area for more than three decades.

Since 1996, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has regularly monitored the penguin population. The main objectives are to observe breeding conditions and assess whether the presence of tourists has any negative impact on the birds' natural behaviour. Port Lockroy is the only place in Antarctica where penguins can be monitored in this way throughout the entire breeding season.

Staff must follow strict rules to avoid disturbing the penguins. During the first few weeks of the season, they are not allowed to go beyond designated boundaries. Once around 95 percent of the penguins have completed laying their eggs, the entire team counts all the penguins and their nests on the island.

In December 2024, the count recorded 571 nests and 938 eggs. Towards the end of the breeding season, the chicks are counted again when they grow larger and begin moving around in groups. The process continues until two consecutive counts produce similar results.

Salaries vary depending on the position and responsibilities. Opportunities are available as general assistants, base managers and store managers. Monthly earnings range from approximately 1,700 to 2,500 euros, equivalent to around Tk 250,000 to Tk 350,000.

Despite the opportunity to spend time with penguins, living conditions on the island are challenging. There is no running water. Drinking water must be brought from boats arriving from outside the island in 20-litre containers. Due to limited supplies, staff can shower only once a week. If bad weather prevents boats from arriving, they may have to go without a shower for up to two weeks.

Solar power is the island's only source of electricity. As a result, high-energy appliances such as hair dryers and microwave ovens cannot be used. There is also no regular mobile network. Communication depends on slow satellite internet or Wi-Fi available on larger ships anchored near the island.

The toilet facilities are portable and must be cleaned by the staff themselves every day. Accommodation consists of bunk beds. Indoor temperatures in the barracks generally remain between 14 and 15 degrees Celsius, while outdoor temperatures fluctuate between five degrees below and five degrees above freezing.

There is no upper age limit for applicants, but candidates must be at least 18 years old. Good physical fitness is essential, as daily duties include clearing snow, unloading supplies from boats on slippery rocky surfaces and carrying boxes weighing up to 15 kilograms. Smoking is strictly prohibited on the island.

The most important eligibility requirement is that applicants must have legal permission to live and work in the United Kingdom. UKAHT is expected to open applications for its next recruitment round on its official website early next year.

Overall, counting penguins in Antarctica is both an exciting opportunity and a unique responsibility involving nature and wildlife conservation. However, despite the attractive salary of up to Tk 350,000 a month, spending several months in the harsh conditions of the icy continent requires considerable physical and mental preparation.