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Wandering albatross
Breeding pairs remaining in the world: 8,500
Where do they breed?: South Georgia (South Atlantic) and sub-Antarctic islands in the Indian Ocean
Wingspan: 250-350 cm
Length (beak to tail): 120-135 cm
Average lifespan: 40-60 years
Diet: Adults feed at sea mainly on marine molluscs and fish. Can often be found following ships and feeding on offal and galley refuse
Scientific name:Diomedea exulans
Threat level: Vulnerable
Why they need your help
With a record-breaking wingspan of 3.5 metres, the wandering albatross is a true giant of the ocean. It is also a true ocean wanderer, being known to travel more than 10,000 kilometres in search of food!
They may be the biggest albatross, but this doesn't save them from the threat of longlining. Due to their size and aggressiveness, they muscle other birds out of the way in the flocks of birds that longline fishing boats attract - increasing their chances of being hooked.
Covering such vast areas of ocean while looking for food also means they encounter more than their fair share of longline fleets.
Couple with this, as it can take as long as 380 days to produce a chick, at best, they only have one every two years.
In 2007 a survey of wandering albatross chicks on Bird Island revealed that half had eaten fishing hooks, as well as an assortment of plastic debris.
Predators have also had a big impact at some colonies, in some cases resulting in complete breeding failure.