En route to a search and rescue mis­sion in Antarctica, the Argentine ship the Uruguay brought aboard a pig who would spend most of his life in a place where the ice was common place. His name was Toby.

The rescue was a success, and after the Uruguay returned to Buenos Aires, another expedition to Antarctica was about to commence. The ship was the Le Français. The commander Jean Baptiste Charcot, a French explorer, was given Toby as a farewell gift from the commander of the Uruguay with the following words, “He has been our mascot. I hope he will be yours!”

On board the Le Français, Charcot aimed to explore the western side of the Antarc­tic Peninsula, wintering over to conduct scientific observations. They discovered Port Lockroy, Port Charcot, and produced 18 scientific volumes.