What a wild and crazy week it has been! I returned to Dallas early this morning, around 1230a.m. I still haven’t caught up on my sleep, but I have caught up on my laundry. I will be writing and posting about the events in St. Lucia this week, and in the interim, please enjoy these photos of a beautiful week spent above, and below, St Lucia’s surface!
I am super excited to be on my way to St. Lucia with REEF.org on December 5 in order to do Fish Surveys. REEF: Reef Environmental Education Foundation is a grass-roots organization that seeks to conserve marine ecosystems by educating, enlisting and enabling divers and other marine enthusiasts to become active ocean stewards and citizen scientists. I have contributed data to their database for many years, on and off, but this will be my first opportunity to actually meet other, and very active, members of REEF.
REEF has three main projects: the Grouper Moon Project in the Cayman Islands, the Lionfish Project, and the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project. The Nassau Grouper is a Caribbean icon but was reaching very low numbers. The project began by witnessing a spawning event in the Caymans, but has now grown to educational efforts, tagging, and study. I saw a Nassau Grouper in Cozumel during October…I had not seen one for many years, so I was overjoyed. Lionfish are an invasive species in the Atlantic and the Caribbean, and REEF has programs to try to minimize this fact, including Lionfish Derbies to remove them. Lionfish are actually quite tasty, and hopefully more and more people will begin to fish for, and eat, the Lionfish.
I have been entering data to REEF’s Volunteer Fish Project Survey for many years. I confess I don’t always do it when I dive in the waters they survey, but it is imperative to get population numbers right, so if I am immersed in another project or in photography, I don’t keep track. I have wanted to go on one of REEF’s sponsored trips for years, and now I am getting my wish! Diving vacations that matter! I will post photos and blog from our base in St. Lucia, a place I have never visited. Exciting!
Do you love animals? The ocean? Terra Firma? Do you have a conservationist in your family or friend group? If so, consider these gifts which will not only please the recipient, but give a priceless gift to our fellow creatures. Did you watch RACING EXTINCTION last night on Discovery? It premiered, and it has the power to change the terrible outcome that awaits us and future generations. What one thing can YOU do to help? #STARTWITH1THING
It takes one small thing to start a revolution. What will you do to help?
How about adopting something really BIG??? Like a Whale Shark or a Manta Ray? The person it is gifted to can name it as well, and sightings of the animal will be reported to them! check out http://www.marinemegafauna.org/support-us/adopt-a-giant/! The team at Marine Megafauna knows how to give a BIG gift opportunity! Here is my BIG girl! 
Daenerys Targaryen, the Stormborn, Princess of Dragonstone, Queen of the Andals and First Men, Queen of the 7 Kingdoms, the Unburnt, and Mother of Dragons! We just call her Dany for short!
I was given the wonderful gift of naming this beautiful Manta in the Revillagigadoes Islands. The Manta had not been seen since 2003 until I photographed it in 2012 and turned put it in the database for the Pacific Manta Research Group. I decided on JEDI with the help of Karey Kumli at the Pacific Manta Research Group! I had two names, and Karey said “I like Jedi, it has a positive and powerful message. Keepers of Peace & Justice in the galaxy.” Isn’t that what we are trying for? Peace and Justice for the creatures that populate the earth?
JEDI
Manatees and Dugongs are endangered by humans and their boats. They are such sweet, friendly creatures. Remember them this holiday season! Donate here: https://secure3.4agoodcause.com/save-the-manatee-club/gift.aspx?id=2 or adopt one!
A Little Fun Rolling in Crystal River, FL
Join the fight for a healthy ocean and ecosystem! Join the Ocean Conservancy! http://www.oceanconservancy.org/the-ocean-matters/
Let’s not forget our other friends: African animals http://www.africanwildlifeconservationfund.org/
With the death of Cecil and so many other lions, they have become critically endangered. Can you imagine a world without Big Cats? I can’t. Help by High Five Give Five! http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/big-cats-initiative/get-involved/
Black Rhinos are almost extinct in the wild…and the Northern White Rhino is on the verge. There are three left in the wild. Yes, only three. They are in such desperate shape. They truly need all the help they can get. http://www.savetherhino.org/
and don’t forget Pelagic Life, http://www.pelagiclife.org. From studying animals to assisting sharks who have been “hooked”, this group is always active in the cause of saving our Pelagic Life. Nurture YOUR soul in the open ocean!
Give a gift of life and conservation for the holidays, and help humans preserve not only wildlife, but ourselves.
PS: Please don’t forget when you travel, fly airlines that do not carry endangered species cargo. American Airlines just announced it will no longer carry shark fins as cargo! They join, just to name a few, Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Jet Airways, and United Airlines. Many, many carriers are joining the crusade to stop transporting ivory, rhino horns, shark fins, manta fins, sea turtles and other endangered species parts. Choose your airlines and hotels and even shipping companies based on this kind of criteria. If they contribute to the shark fin trade, do not fly them. And let them know why you won’t fly them. Use social media to chastise any transport of these endangered species parts!
Happy Holidays to one and all! Let’s all help make this a friendlier planet!
No, I’m not talking about Sponge Bob or any of his pals! I’m talking about sponges, the real sponges growing on the ocean floor. They are always beautiful, of course, but I had the thrill recently of seeing them spawn!
At first I thought it looked like those ocean vents in the very, very deep ocean, the ones that are smoking with heat from the earth’s core…then I realized, it is sponge sex! Sponges have both eggs and sperm, and can reproduce either way. As to why a sponge decides to send out sperm to fertilize other sponge’s eggs…it is a mystery too deep for me to solve! Here are some gorgeous sponges and enjoy the dive video!
Last night I watched a documentary called Blood Lions on MSNBC. Depressing? Yes, and horrifying.
It was about “canned hunting”, and the raising of lions for “the bullet”. Of course, consumers who want to volunteer in lion conservation programs, or who want to aid in conservation efforts, are told that these “farms” are all about introducing lions back into the wild. In South Africa, that is most definitely not true.
Lion cubs, who normally stay with their mother for 18 months at least, are removed from their mother after 3 days to a week. Why? So mom can go into heat again and produce more lions who will grow up so people can shoot them.
Lions are kept fenced in, but people come and pay to pet them, walk them, play with them. When they grow older, trophy hunters come to kill them.
These are “canned” hunts. The lions are raised by humans, so they have no fear. They are “tracked” in fenced areas, and even baited. Seeing these animals shot and killed on film was devastating.
Why do hunters want “canned hunts”? Because it guarantees them a trophy, a trophy that is perfect, not marred by living life in the wild.
We should all watch this documentary. Lions are endangered, and finally people are reacting. Botswana has made it illegal in the aftermath of Cecil’s death. If you don’t know who Cecil the Lion is, pick up a newspaper, or surf the news. Do you want to help outlaw the poaching of lions? Sign here! Zimbabwe outlawed hunting…for nine days. Check this out: http://www.luxuryhunts.com/zimbabwe_lion_hunt.html. So where do these lions come from on these hunts? I cannot find the answer. Does anyone know??
Fortunately, many corporations are coming on board (finally!) in regards to the transport of “trophy parts”. Air France, KLM, British Airways, United, American, Delta…have responded by disallowing transport of endangered animal parts like lions, shark fins, tiger, rhino, elephant, etc. Please, before you travel, find it if the airline allows transport of these items. If they do, don’t fly them. Before you ship anything, find out if the shipping company still ships endangered animal parts.
I probably won’t be here in 50 years, but my grandchildren will be. I want them to see wild animals in their habitats, I hope they can snorkel or dive and see sharks. And a coral reef. However, at this rate, they won’t be able to. Can you imagine an earth where these animals are extinct? The ocean dead? It is coming, unless we stop it.
My family walked with lions in Zimbabwe. Afterward, I found out it is a “for profit” operation, Lion Encounter. I still am unsure if they are truly trying to help or if they are exploiting animals. It does not sound good, though, I hope those beautiful creatures are still alive. We will never do it again, nor will we do a penned dolphin swim or go to a sea world. Once you know the harm that it is doing, the only thing to do is stop contributing to the harm.
The incredible Whale Shark is the biggest fish in the ocean! And it is such a beautiful, gentle fish! It has to be said that whale sharks probably don’t have Einstein’s IQ since they have the smallest brain in the ocean for their size, but give them a break …they help keep plankton and krill under control, which is necessary for our oceans and for life on earth. I just returned from the Yucatan peninsula where possibly the largest aggregation of whale sharks occurs, and it was a spectacular trip. Here are some Whale Shark Facts along with the photographs I took!
1. The largest fish in the ocean can grow up to 65 feet and 75,000 pounds. They are as large as many whales, and as big as, or bigger than, a city bus!
2. The largest fish in the ocean eats the smallest creatures in the ocean: tiny plankton, small fishes, and small crustaceans. They are filter feeders, they gulp the sea water through their gills, and when the water is pushed out, prey gets stuck to their gill plates. Yum!
3. Whale Sharks are sharks and do not have bones, but cartilage. Cartilage does not fossilize as well as bones do, so there is not a huge fossil record of sharks. Most of what we know of ancient sharks come from their teeth.
4. Female Whale Sharks are bigger than the males and are found in all warm oceans: Pacific, Indian and Atlantic.
5. Whale Sharks are gentle creatures and one can swim right next to the animal with no fear.
6. Each whale shark has a unique spot pattern from it’s gill to over the pectoral fins. When swimming with whale sharks, it is best to take ID photos to upload into a scientific database like www.whaleshark.org.
7. Thanks to tagging and ID photographs much more is now known about Whale Sharks compared to 10 years ago. We know they migrate thousands of miles to opportunistically feed…Mexico is a hotspot, particularly the Yucatan where tuna spawn in the summer. The whale shark may live up to 100 years!
8. It is not common to see pregnant females like the one pictured here. Much of the time one sees juvenile males. A female whale shark has been known to hold 300 fetuses. It is possible that female whale sharks may “save sperm” in order to fertilize their own eggs as they are made, but more study needs to be completed in order to know for certain.
9. Sadly, the Whale Shark is “vulnerable” according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red List. Whale Sharks are protected in most areas of the world but are still killed for their fins (for shark fin soup). Sharks are very toxic to humans so they are not a good food source, and humans have been very toxic toward sharks since we are responsible for the deaths of 75 to 100 million sharks a year.
If you wish to learn more about these fascinating sharks, check out www.marinemegafauna.org. Marine Megafauna Foundation studies large pelagic species in order to understand their ecology and protect them from illegal fishing practices. You can even adopt a shark, manta ray, or sea turtle! The proceeds go toward scientific study of the animals for conservation purposes. Marine Megafauna also offers expeditions (like the one I was just on in the Yucatan) in order to assist scientists by performing citizen science. We are all responsible for the condition of our planet, and we all need to contribute in some way. If you’d like to learn more about sharks and the state of our oceans, I recommend going to www.sharkwater.com and seeing the documentaries of Rob Stewart, or checking the BBC or Discovery Channel.
