Um, cool.
…and weird.
Behold the ribbon eel! They are native to Indian and Pacific oceans. This one was filmed in the waters of Indonesia.
via Neatorama.
What fun!
New-Found Hammerhead Shark Species Already Under Threat
Over the last three decades scalloped hammerhead sharks have been fished and finned to near extinction, their numbers dropping around 95 percent across the world, though the recent discovery of a newly documented ‘twin’ species means this tragedy is actually two-fold.
As if the long-term outlook for scalloped hammerheads were not grim enough, researchers say that finding a look-alike species suggests that past marine censuses had likely inflated the figures of their already dwindling population. This new species, as yet unnamed, was first discovered off the coast of Nova Scotia in 2005, and was thought to be a localized variant.
(Source: unitedbyblue.com)
How Many Sharks Are Caught Each Year?
Tens of millions of sharks die each year to supply the multi-billion dollar fin trade. But how many exactly, how do we know, and why is it important?
Want to learn more about why sharks are so crucial to our oceans? Watch this video, “What Would Happen if Sharks Disappeared?”
Afterwards, make sure you sign up with our Thunderclap to donate your voice to shark conservation with our partners, Oceana, The Pew Environment Group, and Shark Savers : http://bit.ly/OU8inN.
(Source: unitedbyblue.com)
This is horrible. Just beyond horrible. In the words of our tech producer, “I’ve walked out of restaurants who serve shark’s fin soup.”
Personally, I’ve never looked, but I certainly will now.
US Shark Fin Soup Appalling and Widespread
We gathered 51 samples from restaurants in 14 cities and found one made from the fin of a scalloped hammerhead, which is endangered. We discovered samples containing fin of vulnerable and near-threatened species, including bull, smooth hammerhead, school, spiny dogfish and copper sharks.
I am a shark attack survivor, but I appreciate the importance of these predators for the health of the ocean. I have dedicated my life to helping them.
Would you eat tiger soup? Of course not. It’s a species facing extinction. But if you eat shark fin soup, you could hasten the demise of animals facing a similar plight, because nearly a third of all shark species are in peril.
Shark Finning is a huge issue in The Blue Movement. We even made a video to help inform people as to why it’s so damaging. You can see that here. Learn more about The Blue Movement
Presenting the World’s Slowest Shark
He can still catch seals, but he has to sneak up on them when while they’re asleep. Maybe he’s just not in a hurry?
“We think that the slow speed of Greenland sharks might be due to low water temperature in the Arctic Ocean,” lead author Yuuki Watanabe of the National Institute of Polar Research told Discovery News.
The shark in the photo has a data logger on his back so they can learn more about these slowpokes.
All about Greenland sharks, the world’s slowest shark.
And I thought we were having a slow week … jk.
Shark Week is coming up right after the Olympics!!
A Great White Shark Attack in Slow Motion
Phantom camera capturing amazing slow motion shark attack footage.
Video: ITM Instruments
Ed note: The secrets of a shark attack revealed. Also, the Shark Week Tumblr is pretty fantastic and definitely worth a follow.
Shark Week is a time honored tradition and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t love watching it. But it’s important to remember who the real predators are and why sharks are so important to our world.
Read more: An Unfair Perception Part 1: The Human Attitude Toward Sharks
Infographic: Who Has More to Fear - Man or Shark? (via SurfMeisters)
I am a sucker for a cute polar bear. Or is that just too easy?
Loved this one:
Can This Baby Polar Bear Save His Species?: Big Pic
iku, a polar bear cub born in captivity in Denmark, has taken the Internet by storm. It’s not a surprise, he’s so cute!
When Siku was born at the Scandinavian Wildlife Park November 22, 2011 his mother had not produced milk for three years.
“Instead of leaving the cub to die we decided to try to bottle feed it,” according to the website for the Park. Siku is comfortable around humans and is feeding from a bottle. The site informs visitors Siku weighs just over seven pounds as of December 22, and is “thriving!!!!!” (the emphasis is theirs).
The beluga whale who saved a free diver who had cramped up 20 feet below the surface:
When free-diver Yang Yun tried to return from the bottom of an arctic pool, she found that her legs had cramped up and she couldn’t move.
“I began to choke and sank even lower and I thought that was it for me – I was dead. Until I felt this incredible force under me driving me to the surface.”
A Beluga whale named Mila had seen what was happening and sprang into action, guiding Yun safely back to the top of the pool.
And again, cetaceans showing concern and compassion for members of other species.
…
An amazing story. Another reason to help save our seas.
Probably the Einstein of Whale Sharks
Conservation International has posted a great video on its Youtube channel. It shows a beautiful whale sharksucking on a fishing net and eating the small fish that spill out.