An island once dubbed the 'world's deadliest' was closed to the public for nearly 50 years.
When you think of the Scottish Highlands, images of mountains, freezing temperatures, and deep, mysterious lochs typically comes to mind.
But what about anthrax?
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Why was Gruinard Island banned to the public?
Located close to a bay near Gairlock and Ullapool, Gruinard Island appears pretty unimportant at first glance. However, it was once a key World War II test site, which left it contaminated with a deadly virus for nearly five decades.
In 1942, scientists set off anthrax spore bombs as part of 'Operation Vegetarian', to test whether or not the bacteria could be weaponised in their offensive against Germany.
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The operation saw the military purchase the remote island and ban locals from visiting. Sheep were then used as test subjects for the subsequent anthrax explosion, with all of the livestock ultimately becoming contaminated and dying.
"Eighty-odd sheep were tethered at various stages downwind of the likely explosion," University of Leeds professor later Edward Spiers explained in the 2022 documentary 'The Mystery of Anthrax Island'.
"It isn't a great bang, a draught of highly potent spores moving down on the wind and causing infection and death wherever it goes."
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Anthrax spores never ended up being used in weapons. However, enough damage was done to the island, and in 1945, the Ministry of Supply took responsibility of the island and judged it to be 'too hazardous'.
The research would remain a secret by the UK government until the 1980s when 'Operation Dark Harvest' demanded the island be decontaminated, thus bringing the situation into public knowledge. It wouldn't be until 1997 when the full details came to light, when a declassified military film was released into the public domain.
Has Gruinard Island since been decontaminated?
The actions of the Dark Harvest Commandos saw the UK government try again to decontaminate the island, this time by soaking the island in a mixture of seawater and formaldehyde while the worst affected soil was removed an incinerated.
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A flock of sheep would later be placed on the island after the clean-up in 1987, and they remained healthy - leading the government to declare the island anthrax-free and remove warning signs deterring people from visiting in 1990.
In 2022, the entire island would catch fire, with eye-witnesses calling the scene 'apocalyptic' and like a 'hell fire' at the time.
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Has anyone visited Gruinard Island since?
The island would become the subject of renewed curiosity in 2023, when YouTuber Dara Tah decided to stay overnight on Gruinard and remove some of the soil for anthrax testing.
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Despite the island's contamination-free status, Tah and friend Matt James donned hazmat suits for the video to be on the safe side.
Fortunately, the samples the pair took from the island came back anthrax-free, which means its safe to visit - if you want to.
Topics: Community, Environment, History, World War 2, Science, Travel
Brenna Cooper