Stroking penguins without a permit : $10,000
Under the The Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, it is illegal to touch the wild life or alter their behaviors without a permit. it reads as follows:
The Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (ACA), Public Law 95-541,
conserves and protects the native mammals, birds and plants of
Antarctica and the ecosystems of which they are a part. It
is unlawful, unless authorized by permit, to:
The law applies to any
U.S. citizen in Antarctica, any person in
Antarctica as a participant in U.S.
government activities, any
expedition into the Antarctic that originates from the United States,
or any person in the United States who handles certain Antarctic
animals and plants. The Act provides
penalties of up to
$10,000 and
1 year imprisonment for
violations.
A permit system
authorized by the Act allows certain activities,
otherwise
prohibited, when performed within
prescribed restrictions
for scientific or other worthwhile purposes. The
National Science
Foundation (
NSF), the agency of the
U.S. Government that funds and
manages the
U.S. Antarctic Program (
USAP), administers the Act and
its
permit system.