Front: Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec (1734-1797), French naval officer

In 1772, he sailed to the Antarctic, in search of the fabled Terra Australis, where he discovered the Kerguelen Islands and took possession of various territories for France.

Back: Island cat

Front: Rene Bossiere (1857-1941), pioneer of Kerguelen Islands

Rene, together with his brothr Henry (1859-1941), found La Compagnie des Iles Kerguelen in November 1900. The purpose of La Compagnie des Iles Kerguelen is "exploitation of the Kerguelen Islands, including the establishment of all institutions of livestock, fishery, and, generally, the exploitation of natural products and soil".

Back: Island cat

The Kerguelen Islands, also known as Desolation Island, are a group of islands in the southern Indian Ocean. The islands are a territory of France. There are no indigenous inhabitants, but France maintains a permanent presence of 50 to 100 scientists, engineers and researchers.

Kerguelen Islands banknotes are privately issued by the Antarctica Overseas Exchange Office for collectors. They are not legal tender. The purpose of issuing the banknotes is to raise funding for some of the research projects in Kerguelen Islands.