Preserved husky dog Satan

View this record on the National Museum of Australia's website

Type: Dogs, Preserved animals
Date: 1976 - 1984
Place: Mawson station, Mac.Roberston Land, Antarctica; Antarctica
Materials: Animal hide, Animal material - non specific, Fur, Glass, Leather, Metal - non specific, Tooth
Collection: National Antarctic Heritage collection
Accession number: MU00111.017

Description

A preserved husky with a light brown and cream coat in a seated position. The ears are lying foward and flat against the head. Around the dog's neck is a leather collar with a metal name plate that reads 'SATAN'.

Huskies became a part of Australia's Antarctic expeditions in 1949. The stock came from dogs left in Australia by a French expedition – Phillip Law, the then Director of ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions) had the dogs cared for at Melbourne Zoo and arranged to keep the pups born there. Dogs were first used at training camps at Heard Island before establishing a long-term breeding program at Mawson in 1954. Their descendants – over 260 dogs – lived and worked at Mawson until 1992. Dogs were also used also at Davis and Wilkes Research stations. ANARE used sled dogs for exploration over sea ice and inland plateau. They were reliable over sastrugi and crevassed terrain, economical and much loved. In 1991, huskies were removed from the Antarctic to comply with the new environmental policies introduced with the Madrid Protocol. By then they were less useful compared to other advanced transport, but their companionship was irreplaceable to expeditioners. This black and white dog is Satan', born at Mawson Research Station in May 1976 from 'Crumpet' and 'Onik'. He was described as 'inclined to be a bit pushy with other dogs and will break mid-stride when running to break into a fight...a clever bastard and a good fighter. Just as well for him that he's a hard worker and affectionate to boot'. Satan died in 1984 and was later preserved and exhibited at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart.

About the collection

This collection comprises approximately 600 objects acquired by the Australian Antarctic Division and its predecessors between the 1940s and 2010s. It includes scientific and communication equipment, navigation and cartographic equipment, specimens, commemorative objects, building fabric, field support vehicles, clothing and field work supplies relating to Australia’s long and distinguished tradition of research and exploration within the Antarctic region. These objects are the largest and most diverse assemblage of surviving material culture demonstrating Australia’s relationship with the subantarctic islands and Antarctic continent between the nineteenth and twenty-first centuries. The collection offers remarkable natural and historical significance, notably nineteenth century commercial activities and the early twentieth century expeditions of Sir Douglas Mawson and other explorers that expanded scientific knowledge and laid the foundation for Australia’s enduring presence in the region. From the 1940s, the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions undertook major exploratory and scientific work to understand and protect the Antarctic landscape. Australia took a leading role in the International Geophysical Year and the negotiation of a comprehensive environmental protection regime for Antarctica with the establishment of the Antarctic Treaty System from 1959. It records how the Australian Antarctic Division continues to manage Australia’s interests in the Antarctic region, overseeing world-leading research at three permanent continental research stations - Mawson, Casey and Davis - and at subantarctic Macquarie Island.

Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 5:30:17 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2026-10-14. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.