Battle for survival between orca and gigantic Pacific sea turtle
Nature can be beautiful but it can also be harsh. The orca is a perfect example of this contrast. One of the most sophisticated and intelligent animals on earth, it is capable of hunting cooperatively with other orcas, communicating and planning as it does so. Although it is not the largest creature in the ocean, it is undeniably the most formidable. Even great white sharks avoid contact with these super predators.
Orcas in the Galapagos Islands are known to eat sharks, sea lions, penguins, and even giant sea turtles. The seemingly impervious shell of the Pacific green turtle is no match for the frighteningly powerful jaws of the orca. With unbelievable crushing force, this orca cracked the shell of an enormous turtle with ease.
A group of scuba divers from Canada had been exploring the undersea world from their liveaboard tour boat but they ventured out in two of the inflatable pangas to enjoy a close look at the creatures on the shore line, in between their dives. What they saw was an unbelievable sight. Thrilled to witness the dorsal fin of this giant and see it surfacing nearby, they eagerly shot video and pictures of the once in a lifetime display. It was only after a few minutes that they realized that the orca was hunting in the bay and that they were witnessing the results of an underwater battle for survival as the orca ate a magnificent turtle right in front of them. As the orca surfaced, the split shell could be seen hanging off the dorsal fin of the killer whale. The guides explained that an orca will crush the shell of a turtle and then lodge it between rocks to allow them to scrape out the meat with their jaws.
These scuba divers have experienced conflicting emotions on many occasions as they have encountered animals fighting beneath the waves. For both the predator and the prey, these battles are about survival and it is not the place of humans to meddle in the struggles. Their guides have taught them that nature does not need our help. This is especially well understood in the Galapagos Islands where the balance of nature can be more precarious and interference from people can have unthinkable consequences.
While it was difficult to witness the end of this beautiful turtle, it was a privilege to be present to witness the spectacle of such a powerful animal in its natural environment.
These scuba divers entered the water here an hour later to swim with marine iguanas. While they are well aware that orcas have never killed a human in the wild, the image of the turtle and the immense power of the orca was on their minds as they dove, reminding them that humans are visitors in this unforgiving domain. When people enter the water, they are clumsy and awkward and always at the mercy of the animals who thrive in this world. We must respect those animals that call this home.
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Bizarre peacock flounder is the ocean's master of disguise
The peacock flounder has a unique and amazing ability to blend in perfectly with its surroundings. It is capable of changing its pattern and colour in as little as 8 seconds. Researchers have found that this fish can even change its colour to mimic a checkerboard pattern.
Flounders start their life with an eye on each side of their heads, swimming upright as most fish do. As juveniles, they feed and act like normal fish. As they reach adulthood, the right eye of the flounder migrates around the head to the left side of the fish. The eyes extend updawards from the fish like tiny periscopes that move and see independently. This allows the flounder to visualize a threat in all directions.
As adults, the flounder swims along the bottom, constantly changing colour to blend in with it surroundings. Visual cues, along with hormone manipulation give the flounder the ability to control its pigmentation. If a flounder sustains damage to one or both eyes, it will not be able to change colour properly. When motionless, the flounder is nearly impossible to detect on almost any surface.
Flounders are nocturnal hunters, preferring the cover of darkness while they search for small fish, crabs, and shrimp.
Flounders mate in late winter and early spring with the female releasing 2-3 million eggs. As they are deposited in the sand, the male fertilizes them. After fertilization, the eggs float to the surface and are carried on ocean currents. The eggs can hatch hundreds of miles from where they were laid.
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Shark aggressively bumps scuba diver's camera in Belize
Reef sharks are one of the ocean's most magnificent predators. They are sleek and graceful in their movements, and frighteningly powerful. With rows or razor sharp teeth and tremendous jaw strength, they are formidable hunters. But they are also one of the ocean's most misunderstood animals.
Shark attacks on humans are rare. Unprovoked attacks are even more rare. For the most part, sharks are scavengers and opportunistic feeders that prey on the weak and dying creatures. In this way, they keep populations healthy, ensuring that only the strongest of a species is allowed to reproduce. Without sharks, many animal populations would not be kept in check and the effect on the balance of the reef would be devastating.
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Endangered sea turtle shares meal with beautiful queen angle fish
Hawksbill sea turtles are among the most breath takingly beautiful animals in the ocean. Their gorgeous shell and their graceful movements make them a delight for scuba divers to see. They are very rare, having had their populations decimated by over harvesting for meat, eggs, and for the cosmetic appeal of their patterned shells. Through conservation efforts and stricter laws, the hawksbills are making a slow comeback.
This magnificent turtle was found on the reef near Turneffe Caye in Belize. It was cruising along over the coral near a few delighted scuba divers who marveled at its slow and beautiful swimming. The divers kept pace with the turtle and approached slowly and respectfully to get a close look as it selected patches of yellow sponge to snack on. While eating the sponge, chunks broke free and drifted up from the coral, allowing a strikingly coloured queen angel fish to feed on the scraps. The turtle is unconcerned with the fish, as it is with the divers. It has learned that scuba divers will cause it no harm. Most sea life quickly recognize that a clumsy and slow moving human will not present a danger to them.
This gorgeous animal calmly fed on the sponge while the divers positioned their cameras on the bottom to record the spectacle. After a few moments, the turtle gracefully lifted off and swam along the reef looking for more. The divers followed briefly and then turned away to allow the turtle to go off on its own. An encounter with such a beautiful creature in its own environment is an unforgettable experience.
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Gigantic channel crab is no match for a hungry octopus
The ocean is a beautiful place, full of colour and wonder. The animals are fascinating, graceful, and unique in ways that we are barely beginning to understand. But the ocean is a very unforgiving place as well and all animals are constantly struggling for survival in a world where they are the predator one minute and the prey the next. It's a delicate balance that can change in an instant and the creatures in the ocean need to always be watching for danger.
This world changes abruptly when the sun goes down. Darkness brings with it a change that come on as rapidly as the light fades. Creatures with keener night vison and a sharper sense of smell now become the dangerous ones as the fish that swam freely by day must find a place to hide. The channel clinging crab is one of the larger crab species in the Caribbean. It emerges from its lair in the coral to feed on decaying matter and algae. Under the cover of darkness, its camouflage colour and rough surface allows it to blend in nearly perfectly with the rocks and coral around it. It uses long claws to pick at food and place the small bits in its mouth. These crabs are very beneficial to the reef, keeping algae in check and cleaning up rotting debris.
But another animal also comes alive at night and it is one of nature's most perfectly designed predators. The most intelligent invertebrate on the planet, the octopus has a capacity for learning, problem solving, and memory that surpass what we once believed impossible in animals. They have sharp vision and one of the most developed tactile senses in the animal kingdom. Each tentacle is capable of smell and its eight arms work independently to find and subdue prey with complete effectiveness. Possessing incredible strength and unsurpassed flexibility, these animals are formidable. They are able to overpower animals much larger than themselves with ease.
Crevices and hiding places in the coral become more prison than protection when the octopus arrives. When it sense an animal tucked into a tight spot, it extends its arms inward, exploring for the hiding creature as it covers the escape route with its mantel. The food can either try to flee and be captured in the widening umbrella, or it can remain hidden and be dragged out by the powerful arms. In most cases, there will be no escape once the octopus has found its food.
This channel clinging crab has been found in the open and the octopus has seized it, one claw at a time. The powerful beak can pierce the armour of the crab but the octopus prefers to attack the vulnerable underside. It systematically pins each of the crab's claws and works the crab around so that the softer shell of the belly is in position for the razor sharp beak of the octopus. Once this is accomplished, the crab has only moments to live. It struggles valiantly, trying to deter the octopus with a claw and trying to pull itself into the coral. But none of these efforts have any effect on the octopus and the battle is over in less than ten minutes.
The octopus will find a quiet spot to devour the crab in safety. It knows that while it eats the large crab, many creatures roam the water and the reef that would like to eat an octopus. Sharks, eels, and barracuda also patrol these waters and many of them also hunt at night with keen senses of their own. A large shark or moray will devour even the biggest octopus if it is caught unaware.
The battle for survival is a complex one in this mysterious domain and the struggle to survive will continue until daylight, and beyond.
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Scuba guide performs dramatic camera rescue AND records unbelievable footage
When this scuba diver's camera began sinking into the depths, she wasn't just losing a few thousand dollars worth of equipment. She was also losing contacts, precious family photos, and the most memorable video footage that she had ever captured. Minutes before, Tammy met a whale shark face to face at 70 feet in the remote waters of the Galapagos Islands. This is a bucket list trip and the close up encounter with such a magnificent animal is the kind of experience that all scuba divers dream of. She had captured the memories forever and she knew that this was the best dive of her life.
The camera is also Tammy's active iPhone and the water proof case and light system has set her back a lot of money. She had it properly secured to her flotation vest, but the cord broke somehow as she reached the surface. She didn't know the camera was gone until somebody yelled that there was a camera sinking beneath the group. She instantly knew that she couldn't catch it and she braced herself for the reality that it was gone forever.
Kristy, another member of the dive group began chasing the camera but she was well aware that her air had been depleted on the dive. She knew she could not kick her fins quickly enough to descend after it because she would need enough air for the added exertion as well as the return trip from the depths. She made the decision that it was impossible. The camera was sinking almost as quickly as Kristy could swim.
The only one in the group with enough air left to go after it was Solon, the dive guide. A very experienced diver who is in excellent physical condition, he had almost half a tank of air left after the dive. He is diving with enriched air, called "Nitrox". The higher oxygen concentration allows Solon to remain underwater longer without building up a toxic level of nitrogen in his body, but the gas mix becomes toxic to humans under the pressure that exists somewhere below 35m (100 feet). He knows he must reach the sinking camera before he hits 35m or he will risk convulsions, disorientation, neurological damage, or even death.
Solon has longer fins as well and he chases the camera at full effort, slowly closing in as he descends. The rapid dive causes pressure buildup in his ears and sinuses and he needs to equalize rapidly to avoid severe pain and eardrum damage. He must gauge his exertion so that he does not require air faster than his regulator can provide it. Solon disappeared far enough that only his rising bubbles were visible to the divers above. He is alone as he descends because nobody is able to follow him far beneath the surface. This places him at risk because he will be completely reliant on only his own equipment. A malfunction at this time will be disastrous with no dive buddy to share their air with him.
After a few minutes Solon appeared. He could be seen at 6m (18 feet), the safety stop that allows a diver to expel nitrogen gas before surfacing. Unbelievably, he had the camera in his hand, but even MORE unbelievable was that he was using the camera to record something beautiful. Solon had surfaced in the middle of a gigantic pod of dolphins. These amazing animals are a rare sight for scuba divers and a close look at one in its natural environment is also a bucket list item for most scuba enthusiasts. Solon has turned on the camera and is capturing footage for Tammy, who has climbed into the inflatable boat that will take her back to the main boat.
Tammy was already telling fellow divers that she did not think she would ever see her camera or the footage of the whale shark that looked her straight in the eye. Then Solon surfaced and held up the camera. There were cheers and shouts of surprise as Tammy beamed with relief. There was an even bigger smile as she looked at the footage that Solon captured as dolphins circled him curiously.
Tammy is an appreciate person and Solon was properly thanked in a tangible manner for such a super human effort.
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Reef sharks arrive when invasive lion fish are speared for conservation
Lion fish are an invasive species that have wreaked havoc in the Caribbean and other areas of the Atlantic ocean. They are native to the Pacific Ocean where they are kept in check by their natural predators. Accidentally released into the waters of the Atlantic, they breed without control and eat small reef fish at an alarming rate. They are voracious feeders, destroying the delicate balance of ecosystems around the globe.
Scuba divers are encouraged to spear these invaders and remove them from the reefs. They are delicious and excellent for eating. Conservationists and scientists have been encouraging divers to feed them to sharks, groupers, and eels in an effort to teach the larger species that lion fish are suitable food. Although opinions vary on the effectiveness of this action, it is undeniable that predators are eager to eat the lion fish when they are speared or injured in any way.
The difficulty with eating these fish is that they have a highly venomous toxin that coats the tips of their spines. Anything trying to capture them risks a painful sting that is powerful enough to deter or even immobilize even the most determined animal. In humans, the venom can cause severe reaction and pain that is difficult to withstand. But once injured, the lion fish is less able to deliver a sting by positioning its spines in a defensive position.
These sharks are well aware that the spear means the potential for a handout and they circle this diver with great anticipation. John is a seasoned scuba diver who knows that he needs to be careful around these large beasts. Although they are not the vicious killers that they are reputed to be, they are still formidable hunters with rows of razor sharp teeth. He is careful to keep the spear and the fish safely away from him as the sharks come in to grab the lion fish. Although they have no interest in attacking humans, John can find himself in the middle of a frenzy if several sharks close in at the same time.
Feeding wild animals is a hotly debated topic. Many experts tell us that it affects shark behaviour to teach them that humans can be associated with food. Others suggest that the benefit is worth it to try to control the lion fish populations. For the scuba divers accompanying John, feeding these sharks was a thrilling and memorable experience.
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Penguins & sea lions play with thrilled swimmers at the equator
When most people think of penguins, we usually think of Antarctica, yet only 7 of the 17 known penguin species live there. This small penguin actually lives and thrives at the equator. It is the Galapagos penguin and it finds an abundance of food around the remote islands such as Fernandina, due to the convergence of powerful ocean currents. One of the three main ocean currents, the Humboldt, brings with it cold water and this creates the perfect habitat for anchovies, sardines, and mullet. These fish are the main species that make up the diet of the Galapagos penguins.
Flightless birds, they are amazingly agile in the water. Penguins are capable hunters, able to reach speeds of 35km/h (20mph) underwater, using their powerful flippers. These penguins are perfectly at home in the surf, but they spend much of their day on the rocky shores of the Galapagos Islands. They take shelter at night in crevices and caves in the lava debris along the shore.
These swimmers were scuba diving in the nearby waters off Fernandina but they passed close to shore as they returned to their dive boat. They hopped in the water to explore a particularly beautiful stretch of coastline. As they were snorkeling in the blue waters near shore, they were joined by sharks, curious penguins, and playful sea lions. The penguins hunted and paid little attention to the swimmers, although they came close for a curious inspection a few times.
The sea lions however, rolled and cavorted, inviting the clumsy humans to play and follow them as they dashed back and forth and all around them. Sea lions are truly the clowns of the ocean, seemingly laughing and eager to have fun with anyone who enters their domain. The sea lion even tried to catch one of the penguins in what seemed to be a game, but the penguin was not amused. Wisely, penguins avoid sea lions as they are also known to prey on penguins when the opportunity arises. Penguins and sea lions are both hunted by large sharks, making life in these waters hazardous for both of them.
The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the most fascinating and beautiful animals on the planet. Many of the remote areas such as this one see so few humans that the animals here have very little reason to fear them. Although people must keep a respectful distance, it is not uncommon to find that the animals here will approach humans curiously if they are careful and quiet.
The swimmers in this group enjoyed a once in a lifetime experience as they played with sea lions and penguins in their own habitat and on their own terms.
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Fish avoid hammerhead sharks by using scuba diver for cover
Big eyed jacks are a preferred food of many of the sharks in the Galapagos Islands and they seem to know it. These waters are home to thousands of hammerhead sharks that school in great numbers. There are also Galapagos sharks, the top predators here, as well as black tipped reef sharks. These big eyed jacks have many reasons to be wary of what lurks in the depths all around them.
But one way for prey fish like these to avoid being eaten is to find larger animals to hide near. The fish seem to know that the hammerheads we see behind them are reluctant to come too close to the clumsy and awkward looking group of scuba divers. The jacks might understand that the scuba divers are less of a threat, or they might simply hope that the divers are a distraction for the sharks. But either way, they have come directly for the safety of the people in the water.
The scuba divers in this group have ventured here from all over the world to see the amazing and fascinating life that thrives under the waves. The fish and other marine animals come here for the food which is brought by the convergence of three powerful ocean currents that create an upwelling of plankton. Bait fish come to eat the tiny and numerous plankton. They in turn attract larger fish and the larger fish attract the top predators. This is the food chain and the web of life that allows all the animals on the planet to survive.
Hammerhead sharks are formidable hunters with few enemies. The Galapagos shark reigns, even over the hammerheads, at least until the orcas make an appearance. The orcas are undeniably the ocean's top predators, but it is rare to find them in these waters.
The Galapagos Islands are remote and isolated, but they are teeming with life. For most scuba divers, this is the biggest bucket list adventure. It is a world like no other.
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Researchers find gigantic whale shark with deformed tail
The Galapagos Islands are home to an abundance of life beneath the waves and below. It is a mysterious world, frighteningly harsh and inhospitable in many ways. Yet, the animals have evolved to thrive here despite the extreme challenges they face here.
Called the "Land Born of Fire", the Galapagos Islands are relatively new in Geological terms, having formed 4 million years ago as a result of violent volcanic eruptions from the ocean floor. Lave cooled and hardened, creating pillars that rose above sea level and eventually became islands.
The oceans around the Galapagos are unique due to the convergence of three major ocean currents in one spot. The mix of warmer and colder water creates an ecosystem full of animals and food sources. One of the animals that congregates here is the majestic and enormous whale shark, the largest of all shark species, and the largest fish to have ever lived since the dinosaurs swam these oceans. A few species of whale are larger, but whales are mammals and the whale shark is a fish.
Whale sharks come to the waters around Darwin and Wolf Island in the late July and into November. Researchers and scientists have theories about the reason for their presence here but little is known about these gentle giants. Almost without exception, the whale sharks here are pregnant females. They do not exhibit feeding behaviour, despite the masses of plankton and small fish here that make up the whale sharks' diet. Most experts agree that these waters likely provide the whale sharks with an opportunity to bear their young in relative safety, compared with other areas of the world.
Scientists do not know much about juvenile whale sharks and the babies are rarely seen anywhere in the oceans around the globe. These scuba divers have come to capture images that will help them identify the sharks by individual spots and markings. They will document behaviour and estimate sizes to compile date that answers questions about their migration and reasons for traveling such great distances to be here in the Galapagos.
This whale shark has a unique deformity on its tail. It appears to have a mishapen section on the upper portion of the tail that extends beyond the profile of a normal whale shark's tail. It is possible that the tail has an injury and that the cartilage has been affected, but the upper portion of the tail has elongated skin at the rear, suggesting abnormal and asymmetrical growth.
There is a lot to be learned about these giants of the deep. They are magnificent and beautiful, and for many scuba divers, seeing a whale shark up close is the most magical experience possible. Dwarfing a human, they can grow to almost 19m (55 feet) in length. When full grown, they are as enormous as a school bus. Having one swim past within arm's reach, as these researchers have experienced is unforgettable.
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Philanthropist saves 5-year-old child with one phone call and a Lamborghini
Johanita is a beautiful child with a bright future and every hope for a long and healthy life. But it hasn't always been easy for her parents to be as hopeful as they are now. Johanita's struggles and challenges have been extreme, and hope has been elusive as her family fought hard to pay for her medical needs. She was diagnosed at 18 months with an aggressive, cancerous brain tumour. Surgeons rushed to remove it immediately and the surgery was a success but the problems were far from over.
Johanita's medical insurance did not cover the entire cost of the first procedure. More surgeries were required in the months that followed and the family moved to the mainland in Ecuador to live close to the hospital that was keeping Johanita alive. Their bills grew quickly as they worked even harder to manage.
Johanita's father works in a job that takes him away from his family for many weeks at a time. When he most needs to be at his daughter's side, he is off working furiously to keep ahead of the costs. Johanita's mother works equally hard, looking after Johanita and her two brothers who have been as helpful as any children could be.
Johanita recently needed medication that came with an astronomical price tag and the medical bills were already overwhelming. An anonymous philanthropist in Canada had heard about this family and he was touched by their love for their child. His respect for them all was profound. He quietly helped this family to pay for the life-saving drugs. He did this without them ever knowing his name or identity.
Johanita responded well to her medication and the radiation treatments. But at four and a half years of age, the shunt that was placed in Johanita's brain to prevent fluid buildup had failed and she needed surgery immediately to place a new shunt. The cost to the family for this surgery was more than they could manage but the alternative was unthinkable.
S V Krisnarajah (Kris) is the philanthropist who had helped this family. He understood that the family deserved help yet again. He stepped forward with a financial gift that paid the family's portion of the surgery costs and again, he did this in a way that did not reveal who he was.
But this time, Kris also came up with an idea that would put the worry behind them for many years. He would have to step out from behind his anonymity to do something that nobody has ever done before.
Kris and his business partner, Shams Syed would travel across North America in a Lamborghini. They asked for pledges from friends and business contacts and donated money themselves. They also funded the entire tour. Kris and Shams wanted to give Johanita's family reassurance for inevitable upcoming expenses.
The most eastern point in North America is Cape Spear in Newfoundland, Canada. It is a breath takingly beautiful place with rocky shorelines and a picturesque lighthouse. This would be the starting point for their tour as they drove westward to cross the country, and the continent, in seven days. Reaching Vancouver a week later, the two men would log more than 7,500km (nearly 4,700 miles).
The footage captured along the way shows the stunning landscapes. From the rocky coast of Newfoundland, across the forested wilderness of Ontario, over the flat but striking scenery in the prairies, The Badlands, and into the rolling mountains of Alberta and British Columbia, the two saw the country through the windshield of one of the most beautiful and powerful cars on the road. The adventure was life changing for more than just Johanita.
More impressive and heart warming than the scenery, they also witnessed the goodness of people. Donations were offered by several sponsors and also by people along the way who admired the car and why it was being driven across Canada. A few very lucky people were given a ride.
It was truly touching to see how much love and support there was for a little girl across the ocean who was fighting so hard.
Johanita's family are grateful to all who have helped them and they are overwhelmed by what people have done. What strangers have done.
Johanita is growing stronger every day. Her future looks bright. Johanita's family can now focus on the joy, with less need to worry. They dared to take her and her brothers to a nearby beach for the first time in years. The pictures of them in this video show them as they deserve to be, making memories instead of worrying.
Anyone who wishes to help Johanita and her family can visit her fundraiser page at https://gofund.me/3a8e27b8.
This miracle could not have been accomplished without generous support from AptPay, Aptcard, Centurion Capital, Charminar Indian Cuisine, Lamborghini Calgary, Lamborghini Vancouver, Mid East Pharmaceutical, Grand Touring Automobiles, Genesis Appraisals, Posner Metals, Paul Motor Leasing, Empire Capital, HMA Auto Sales, Maurizio Mascioli, Vishnu and Leora.
To save a child across the ocean, it all started with just one call.
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Child Adorably Belly Laughs While Meeting Llamas for the First Time
Johanita is a beautiful five year old child who is meeting llamas for the first time in her life. She is feeding them some salt from her hand and the experience makes her laugh with extreme joy. Whether it is the feel of them tickling her hand or the delight at the interaction with these large creatures is hard to know, but Johanita is loving every minute of this.
Johanita has not had as much experience with animals or nature as many children her age. She has been battling a brain tumour and much of her time since the age of 18 months has been spent either in hospital, or at home recovery from the numerous surgeries and treatments that she has gone through. But all of this is behind her now and she is healthy and growing stronger each day. Her family has taken her on an excursion to an archeological site in Ecuador that features beautiful scenery and fascinating history, but for Johanita, the highlight was the opportunity to interact with a herd of more than 100 gigantic and wooly animals.
The people who run this interactive site provide a few salt packages to guests who would like to meet the animals up close. The llamas know the routine and they come running across the grass when they see a group of friendly guests.
The llamas crowded around Johanita, eager to get their share and she quickly caught on that an outstretched hand would draw them right up to her. Fearless and enthusiastic, this young girl is truly experiencing the joy of life for the first time in her young life. She has some catching up to do and her family is working hard to provide their daughter with every opportunity.
For Johanitaès parents and brothers, the highlight of their day was hearing the beautiful sound of her belly laughs as she throws her head back with sheer joy and delight.
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Spotted eagle stingray glides majestically past scuba diver
The waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands hold some of the most beautiful sights on the planet. Scuba divers venture here from all over the world to view magnificent creatures like gigantic eagle rays, hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. They enter the water in strong current and make a rapid descent to the bottom to grip the rocks and find a perch from which they can watch the most brilliant show in the world.
Three strong ocean currents converge around the islands of Darwin and Wolf, causing an upwelling of plankton, nutrients and food that bring small fish, which attract larger fish. The waters are abundantly rich with life and diversity.
These spotted eagle rays are magnificent creatures with surprisingly high intelligence. They have evolved an ability to detect the electrical impulses of their prey through thousands of nerve cells located in their wings and around their heads. They can also sense minute changes in water temperature and pressure. They are extremely capable hunters.
Spotted eagle rays are unique in appearance and they are among the most graceful and beautiful of all the undersea animals.
Their long whip tails possess a barb with powerful venom that acts as a very effective means of defense. Capable of inflicting serious, even fatal wounds on large predators, they are usually avoided by all animals except large sharks.
This scuba diver was hanging onto a rock in the strong current off Darwin Island when the two eagle rays appeared and swam casually past him, almost within arm's reach. They fought the current, making slow progress creating a prolonged and memorable experience for the lucky divers in this group.
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Overjoyed scuba diver is surrounded by hundreds of dolphins
The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the most breath taking sights on the planet, both above the waves and beneath them. For scuba divers, this is a paradise that is experienced by only the lucky few. Remote and seemingly hostile, these islands are not easy to get to and they are filled with unique and strange animals for the same reason.
This scuba diver has ventured to the remote waters of Wolf Island and he has just begun to surface after a dive with hundreds of hammerhead sharks and beautiful fish. As he waits for 3 minutes at a depth of 6m, the buildup of dangerous nitrogen gas in his blood will decrease. Rushing to the surface can have disastrous and long term effects for scuba divers.
As he waits patiently, this diver is greeted by a magnificent sight. He has surfaced right in the path of a gigantic school of dolphins that are circling the island. They are playful and curious as they swim past closely, some of them returning for a second look at the clumsy human in the water. Dolphins are graceful and beautiful as they arc and change direction quickly. They dart to the surface to breathe and then they dive deeper, sometimes in groups of three or four that are obviously interested in staying close together.
Divers may go their whole lives without seeing a dolphin close up. For many, an experience like this one is a bucket list item and an ultimate thrill. To have this incredible interaction go on for several minutes was a dream come true for all of the divers in this area. Dolphins are highly intelligent and highly social animals. There is no question that when they look at you, they are fully taking everything that they see. It would be amazing to know what they are thinking when they encounter us as these one have.
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Trailcam catches incredibly rare piebald fawn video footage
A trailcam mounted in the woods of northern Ontario has captured footage that provides a close look at a very rare creature. So infrequent and beautiful, capturing images of a piebald white-tailed deer is often compared with photographing a unicorn. White-tailed deer are very common throughout North America and capturing video of them on a trailcam is not difficult to do. But nature enthusiasts and hunters alike might go their entire life without ever seeing a live one.
Tom, an avid outdoorsman has been stashing cameras in the woods for several years. He has captured amazing footage of deer, bears, lynxes, foxes, wolves, and even eagles. Although he has heard of a few sightings of piebald deer and he once saw one himself from a distance, he has never found one making an appearance in the thousands of hours of recordings that he has made.
Piebald colouring results from a genetic abnormality that exists in some mammals and even snakes. It's a recessive trait, meaning that it can only surface when both parents carry the gene. This is extremely rare, occurring in less than 2% of the deer population. Often compared with albinism, both appear to be similar in some respects, but the difference can be readily determined by looking at the eyes of the animal. Albino deer will have pink eyes, pink noses, and pink hooves. They also have poor eyesight. Piebald deer will have brown eyes, brown noses, and brown hooves. Their visual capabilities are unaffected. Deformities in their organs and bone structure is also more common than in regularly pigmented animals. For this reason, piebald deer are less likely to survive to adulthood than other deer.
Tom was shocked when he went through the footage on this occasion and he was thrilled to see such clear images of this fawn as it walked right past his camera. The trailcam is set to record intermittently and the footage that came before this video was also very fascinating. A doe with a pair of fawns makes an appearance a few seconds earlier. The doe appears to be in the company of three fawns. With no other deer in sight on this occasion, it is believed that this beautiful animal has triplets. This is quite rare among white-tailed deer. Twins are common enough, but for a doe to have triplets, the habitat and food availability must be ideal. Even with perfect conditions, a doe will bear a third fawn only 15 to 20% of the time.
The odds of having a camera in the right place at the right time to capture close up video of a piebald fawn in a set of triplets is astronomical. In fact, photographs and video of such an occurrence is almost unheard of.
Tom cannot believe his good fortune and he has shared the footage with his friends. He will continue to explore these woods and video the trails in an effort to capture more images of this beautiful deer.
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Hammerhead shark closely investigates scuba diver as it swims near
Hammerhead sharks are beautiful animals with one of the most unique appearances in all of the ocean's animals. Immediately recognizable by their elongated and flattened head, hammerheads stand out and can be differentiated from other sharks easily, even from a distance.
Scientists and biologists believe that the hammerhead's design has evolved for several different reasons. The wedge shaped head allows the hammerhead to manipulate prey, specifically stingrays, a popular food for these sharks. They are able to lift the wings of the stingray and bite them while avoiding the ferocious stinging tail at the same time.
It is also possible that the head contains sensory receptors that allow the hammerheads to locate and capture prey. Having eyes located on the sides of the elongated head provides the shark with superior binocular vision and depth perception, an ability that is crucial for capturing swiftly moving prey.
These scuba divers ventured to the outer reaches of the Galapagos Islands near Darwin and Wolf Island to see the amazing and awe inspiring creatures that live around these structures. Created 4,000,000 years ago by volcanic eruptions, towers of hardened lava have provided structure in an area where three underwater currents converge. The combined currents create an upwelling of nutrients and food that attracts smaller fish and marine animals, which in turn, attract whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, and Galapagos sharks. Divers sit on rock ledges at a depth of 20m (60 feet) to watch the current carry the marine animals past in what can be described as the world's largest and most spectacular iMax theatre.
Hammerheads are also curious animals and they will often venture close to divers to investigate them and to look for opportunities to feed on the fish that also congregate near the humans.
Hammerheads are fearsome beasts with a reputation as being aggressive and dangerous sharks, but the truth is that there have been only 17 documented, unprovoked attacks on humans in almost 500 years. Not a single one of these incidents has been fatal.
People are well advised to respect all animal life, including sharks, and to remember that we are the guests in this underwater domain. With proper behaviour, the risk is very small.
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Gigantic bait ball engulfs divers and the result is mind blowing
Bait balls are an incredible sight for scuba divers. They are nature's way of helping small fish avoid predators. Small fish school tightly to confuse larger fish and sea lions if they cannot hide in vegetation or coral. The enormous mass of moving, silvery bodies makes it impossible for predators to track the movements of individual fish. This makes it hard for a predator to follow and capture one specific fish.
A bait ball is a last ditch effort of the smaller fish to evade a larger animal. They large school provides more eyes to watch for an ambush and any reaction to a threat will be perceived by all of the other fish in the bait ball. They will move rapidly away from any threat. But many predatory fish, mammals, and birds have developed sophisticated methods of attack that allow them to successfully feed on the fish within the bait balls.
Swordfish slash through bait balls at high speed, slicing or stunning the prey. Whales lunge feed by charging and opening their mouths as they reach the school. Sea lions herd the fish to the surface and work together to charge through the dense ball of fish.
These divers saw the dark cloud of salemas approaching and they were mesmerized by the beauty of the swarm as it engulfed them. The fish in these swarms are so densely packed that they block most of the light and it is almost too dark for a scuba diver to see around them. The diver with the camera is Solon Intriago, a seasoned scuba guide with more than 30 years of experience and almost 15,000 dives under his belt. He shows us here what happens when air bubbles are released into the bait ball from beneath. The fish move out of the way as if they don't want the bubbles to touch them. They quickly close in again, engulfing the divers once more.
The divers soon learned why the salemas had formed the bait ball when they saw a sea lion hunting at the edge of the school. The beauty and wonder of the underwater world has to be seen to be believed. These scuba divers were overjoyed to spend this time surrounded by such a gigantic school of fish.
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Camera dangled overboard in shark infested waters records beautiful footage
Sharks are a crucial and very welcome part of the underwater world. Without them, our oceans would be in serious trouble, as would all life under the waves, and even life above the surface. We need them. We also admire them and live in awe of them. But many of us still fear them. They are capable and formidable predators and we understand that they could cause us great harm with little effort. Yet, they rarely attack humans and we are safer in the water with them than most people would believe.
These scuba divers are anchored at a remote site off Darwin Island in the Galapagos. The boat has left civilization to take these adventurers to an uninhabited corner of the planet where life has evolved and changed on its own schedule, largely unaffected by the world around them. Sharks rule here and they swim in these waters in massive numbers. Galapagos sharks, hammerheads, and silky sharks like these keep the population of many other creatures in check. Even orcas roam freely here in the surprisingly cold currents that converge near the equator.
The scuba divers on this boat have been enjoying a magnificent underwater theatre full of hammerhead sharks, whale sharks and schooling fish. They enter the water and then return to this boat which serves as their floating hotel while the explore one of the most stunning and beautiful places imaginable. But as they rested between dives, they noticed that the water around their small cruise ship was full of sleek, grey animals. Initially, they thought they were watching dolphins that had come to visit. Yet the large creatures didn't surface as dolphins would. They dangled a camera overboard on a piece of string to capture footage of their visitors. When they watched the footage, they were thrilled, and a little intimidated to see that the figures below were curious sharks that patrolled curiously just beneath their boat.
These are silky sharks and they are abundant in waters such as the Galapagos. Aggressive and persistent hunters, they are potentially dangerous to humans who carelessly venture too close, but attacks are rare and seasoned scuba divers know to keep a respectful distance and to avoid being too close to the sharks' food sources. These large animals grow to a length of almost 3m (8.2 feet) and they have powerful jaws and many rows of sharp teeth. They are one of the bolder sharks. Even dolphins show them considerable respect when their competitive hunting brings them in close contact. Like all ocean animals, they are far more agile and capable in the water than we are. Humans are well advised to show all sharks proper respect to avoid serious consequences.
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Gigantic bull sea lion tries to bite swimmer in Galapagos Islands
Sea lions are one of the incredible animals that inhabit almost all beaches and rocky coasts in the Galapagos Islands. They are adorable and playful animals that delight tourists and residents alike. But sea lions are also wild animals and these tourists who were swimming in the water were reminded of the fact that they are unpredictable animals and that keeping a respectful distance is always wise.
These two were snorkelling in a quiet bay during a tour that involved sight seeing around Santa Fe Island. The boat stopped in a beautiful bay and the tourists were invited to slip into the water to see the fish and the sea lions that were known for their playfulness. As the current gently took the swimmers around the bay, the female sea lions darted around them and chases each other in fun.
The bull male sea lions are not known for their playfulness. They are over 2.5m (8.2 feet) long and can weigh as much as 250kg (550lb). They bark constantly, reminding other sea lions to stay away from the colony of females and babies. This reminder is well heeded by people too. On this occasion, the bull cruised around calmly and watched the humans from a distance. Being careful not to venture close to the area where the colony was basking, the tourists were enjoying the view and drifting slowly past.
As the females became more playful, one of the swimmers began to engage in the fun by diving down and rolling in a playful manner. Sea lions are known to respond to this by swimming closer and rolling themselves. But the male sea lion took a sudden dislike to the tourists and he came rushing out from the rocks, directly at the swimmer in this video. With just a few flaps of his powerful flippers, the bull swam directly beneath the startled swimmer and opened his mouth wide to display a large mouth full of huge teeth. The head of a male sea lion is easily the size of the biggest giant breed of dog and the formidable jaws are equally impressive.
The sea lion seemed to make a half serious attempt to bite the swimmer who was lucky enough to roll in just the right way as she floated upwards and away from the jaws of the sea lion. This behaviour was instantly recognizable as a warning that the sea lion was not in the mood for playing. As the two swimmers began swimming against the current to distance themselves from the shore and the basking colony, the male made a few more passes, closely inspecting them.
This video shows the swimmer with the camera recording as he backs away. When the male sea lion swam at him, it intentionally bumped him. The camera comes in contact with the animal in an effort to keep some distance and an an object in between them.
Sea lions are clumsy on land, but incredibly agile in the water. The only hope here was to remain calm and slowly swim away. Showing any signs of panic would have agitated the huge beast even more. Luckily, this sea lion was not determined to attack. It was simply sending an unmistakable warning for the tourists that they were not welcome.
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Scuba diver has close encounter with ocean's top predator
Solon Intriago is an accomplished scuba diver by any standards. With more than thirty years of experience as a dive master, he has logged more than 15,000 dives, each one in the Galapagos Islands. He has led thousands of divers on adventures under the waves. He is about to experience the most memorable dive of his life and he was fortunate enough to be recording the whole event on his underwater camera.
The dive took Solon’s group over stunning rock formations in 14m (40 feet) of water. They experienced the hypnotic effect of millions of salemas sweeping past them and surrounding them. Small fish that school tightly to avoid predators, salemas are a beautiful sight as they move quickly in unison, almost like a massive organism performing an underwater dance. The dance is designed to help them evade predators, such as the Galapagos penguin and the sea lions that follow the huge schools, hoping for a snack or two.
Solon was filming the salemas when a pair of Pacific green turtles cruised past, hugging the wall, looking for sponges and plants to eat. Penguins appeared and dashed past closely, also caught on film. Scuba divers are delighted to see this rare and beautiful flightless bird in its natural environment. The Galapagos Islands are the only place in the world, except Antarctica where penguins can be found. The cold water currents bring sardines and other fish here that the penguins require. Despite being on the equator, the waters around the islands are cold, but rich in marine life.
As Solon was filming, he saw a gigantic shadow in the distance and recognized it as an orca. Incredibly, the orca swam directly at Solon as it searched for prey. Orcas, also known as killer whales are unmistakably the top predators of the ocean. Even great white sharks fear these intelligent and powerful animals. Hunting in packs, with a level of cunning that is unrivaled, orcas command complete respect and even awe.
Solon managed to keep his camera aimed at the giant animal as it banked and swam toward the surface near him. Another diver can be seen recording the orca as well and screams of disbelief and joy can be heard as they look at each other. A sea lion can be seen chasing the salemas after the orca swims through. It would be wise for all of these animals to keep an eye out for the orca as it hunts. Any of them would be unable to escape if the orca spied them. With jaws powerful enough to crack the shell of even the largest turtle, these formidable beasts can eat anything they want. But there has never been a recorded incident of a wild orca attacking a human. These divers are perfectly safe in the water.
Orcas are one of the world’s most incredible animals. These divers will never forget their close encounter with this magnificent whale.
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World's largest otters dive for big fish in the Amazon
Giant otters, or giant river otters are the largest species of otter in the world. They grow to a length of 1.8m (almost 6 feet). They are powerful swimmers and capable hunters, able to easily outswim and catch even large fish. Their formidable jaws can hold or crush prey, allowing them to feed on fish that weigh several kilograms. They are even capable of feeding on piranha and caiman, a species in the crocodile family.
Giant river otters are social animals, often living in groups of up to 20 individuals. With large heads and jaws full of large teeth, the giant river otter resembles a large dog when it opens its mouth.
These guests at Sacha Lodge arrived with the hope of seeing the wildlife in a very remote lake just off the Napo river. Their guides, Pablo and Dorian understood their desire to have a close look at the animals of the Amazon. They embarked on a canoe excursion through the waterways and they were treated to a very close look at two otters hunting. The otters swam past the canoe, casting a curious glance at the quiet guests before they began diving for food. They both surfaced with fish in their jaws that were more than half a meter in length (approximately 2 feet). The otters made their way to the shore to devour their meals before repeating this behaviour. The otters could be heard exhaling loudly as they surfaced each time. The lake that these otters are diving in is a dark one, stained by sediment and other materials that seep into the water as it flows through the rich soil of the Amazon basin.
Giant otters are endangered, largely due to encroachment on habitat and depletion of their food supply. Being able to sit in a canoe and watch these animals in their natural environment was a priceless experience for these thrilled adventurers.
These extremely knowledgeable guides can be found on Facebook (Tour Guide Ec - Buko) @bukoguide
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Gigantic tarantula in bathroom falls on woman’s head
Guests in Ecuador were treated to a spectacular close-up view of one of the Amazon rainforest’s most feared creatures. They ventured all the way from Canada to witness the spectacular wonders and the animal life in the remote Amazon at Sacha Lodge. For several days they trekked through the jungle in search of some of the most unique and fascinating creatures on the planet.
Their vacation has come to an end and they are about to make the journey from the rainforest to the second leg of their tour. While stopping at a bathroom, they received one last close-up look at the creatures of the jungle.
This gigantic bird eating tarantula dropped from the ceiling and landed on the hat of one of the tour guests. A mix of delight and fear erupted and the screaming from the bathroom caught everyone’s attention.
One of the guides rushed into the ladies bathroom to rescue the startled guest. He took her hat and gently moved the spider to one of the nearby planters where it could seek shelter from the screaming.
This poor spider was probably more traumatized than any of the guests.
Bird eating tarantulas are harmless if they are left alone, but they can deliver a very painful bite if they are provoked. Like all wildlife, they are better left alone. In this case, nobody intended to get so close to this Amazonian monster. After the initial shock wore off, the travelers all agreed that this interaction was a welcome experience.
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Scuba diver swims among one of the world's most bizarre fish
This scuba diver cannot contain his joy when he finds himself among some of the world's most elusive and unusual fish. These are ocean sunfish, commonly called Mola Mola. They resemble giant heads with fins and no tails and they are extremely clumsy looking animals. They drift slowly on the current, although they can actually swim at slow speeds to move throughout the day. They are also capable of impressive speeds for very short distances to avoid predators.
Small Mola Mola are often prey to a variety of sharks, tuna, sea lions, and many types of large fish, but once they reach full size, their thinck skin makes them difficult to eat.
Mola Mola can reach a size of 3.3m (more than 10 feet) in length and a mass of more than 2300kg (5,000lbs). Once they reach this size, only orcas, large sharks, and sea lions pose a threat to them. They are also capable of diving deep to avoid predators.
The Mola Moila preys on small fish, fish eggs, squid, and other small marine life. They often seek food at deeper temperatures which causes them to lose a significant amount of body heat. It is believed that this why they can often be seen lying flat on the surface, basking in the sun.
Mola Mola lay more eggs than any other fish, with a mature female laying as many as 300,000,000 at one time.
These fish are a rare sight for scuba divers and this man was thrilled to be swimming among a group of these strange animals that seemed unconcerned with his presence. These fish were found swimming around the remote islands of the Galapagos.
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Endangered aquatic bird attacks scuba divers in Galapagos Islands
Cormorants are aquatic diving birds found in many parts of the world. In the Galapagos Islands, these birds have evolved to become flightless. They are believed to be one of the world's rarest birds found only on the coast of Fernandina Island and Isabela Island. In 1999, researchers estimated that there were only 900 in existence. The birds had no predators and lost their ability to fly when a flight was not needed to escape other animals. Since humans have introduced dogs, rats, pigs, and other species, the flightless cormorant's numbers declined sharply.
This cormorant has no fear of humans, which is typical of this species. It must have been believed that the divers represented a food source as it followed them and repeatedly dove, pecking at them and their equipment.
The divers were amused by the behavior and felt no fear of the bird as it could not easily injure them. It is believed that the birds mistake the air hoses and other scuba equipment for eels or fish. This one is attracted by the camera as well as it tried to peck at or eat the camera. The hooked beak is visible, which is how the cormorant seizes and hangs onto its prey. It will only catch food that it can swallow whole.
The cormorants can dive to impressive depths to catch fish, eels, and other marine animals. They use their powerful legs and webbed feet for propulsion. Surprisingly agile, they are capable hunters, and they have no trouble catching enough prey each day. Much of their time is spent basking in the sun and drying their feathers. This cormorant shows its diving ability as it leaves the surface to reach a group of divers on the bottom below quickly. Cormorants are brilliant birds, and they are known for their curiosity. The divers in this video will not soon forget such a bold and entertaining interaction with a wild animal.
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Fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere captured by drone
Pronghorn antelope are the fastest land animals in North America. They are even the fastest in the entire Western Hemisphere. They are known as prairie antelope, American antelope, and prong buck. Their closest relative is actually the giraffe and okapi. They are capable of running speeds of 89kmh (55mph). The only animal on the planet that is capable of higher running speeds is the African cheetah, although the pronghorn can maintain a high speed for a longer period.
They can be found in the interior western United States and parts of the prairie provinces in Canada. Much faster than any predator in this hemisphere, it is believed that it evolved with this running ability to escape the now extinct American cheetah.
These pronghorns were seen running across the Badlands of Saskatchewan, Canada. A drone was being used to film the nearby salt flats when the pronghorns came running through. A wolf was seen along a fence line far behind the pronghorns. Other wolves could be heard barking excitedly. The pronghorns had either heard or smelled the predators and they quickly made their way out of the area. The wolves could never catch healthy pronghorns with open space to run.
Once abundant in North America, pronghorns were hunted by indigenous people to provide a staple part of their diet. These animals are timid and they run at the first sight of a human, making them very difficult to kill. Early tribes would create fenced areas or pens with sticks and branches and they would surround the pronghorns, gently driving them toward an enclosed area. They are reluctant to leap obstacles so they could be more easily shot with arrows once they were herded into an enclosed area.
During breeding seasons, females spend time with one male and then switch to another, inciting conflict and aggression. The males fight for dominance and the females will then mate with the winner.
Although these beautiful animals faced a dangerous population decline soon after the turn of the century, conservation efforts have helped their populations increase over the last 100 years. Although still a species of concern due to habitat encroachment, their numbers are no longer decreasing.
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