The Thing About Endangered Species...

Young Western lowland gorilla at Port Lympne Reserve (the sister park to Howletts),
July 2015. His species, like with all gorilla subspecies, is Critically Endangered

...Is That They Really Do Matter!

Okapi at Marwell Zoo (July 2015). This beautiful ungulate, found
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is now Endangered
due to destruction of its rainforest home and hunting

I've  heard so many times in my life (and you probably have, too):

"But it's just an animal."

"It doesn't matter if a species goes extinct."

Now, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I fully understand that not everyone is an animal lover. However, what I want to get through is that it's never just an animal, and that it really does matter if a species goes extinct. Most people are aware that a heck of a lot of species are threatened with extinction due to mankind and our ways of life, and last year a major report by the WWF and ZSL concluded that we have lost half of the vertebrates that lived on this planet fifty years ago! Just some quick statistics...

... 1 in 4 mammals...

... 70% of plants...

... 1 in 3 amphibians

... 1 in 5 reptiles....

... 4 out of 5 arachnids...

... 90% of lemurs... 

... 1 in 10 sharks...

... an eighth of birds

... and all but one of the great apes (humans, of course) are threatened with extinction, and there's not even enough data to show how many of the fish and insect species are endangered, but there are several listed as such. 

Arina the Amur tiger at Howletts (June 2015)

What's The Deal!? 

There are well over 7 billion of us on the planet, and only, for example, 140 Eastern mountain bongos, three northern right rhinos, forty wild Amur leopards, a hundred kakapo parrots and twenty-eight Hainan gibbons in existence (I can think of so many more species that can be listed here as dangerously low). As our population grows, and the demand for technology, fuel, food, shelter, space and resources follows, the last existing wild strongholds are further pushed to the brink and the rate of habitat loss is alarming. Huge swathes of rainforest, especially in South East Asia, are being cleared for palm oil (found in several items, from shampoo to biscuits), and the trees that are felled are then sold for timber. Madagascar has lost over 90% of its rainforest cover, Britain 99% of its wildflower meadows and 80% of Caribbean reefs are now gone. 

Indah, the female Sumatran tiger at Howletts (June 2015), one of the rarest
subspecies of tiger, threatened by palm oil plantations

Baby Borneo orang-utan, Paignton Zoo (August 2014), which, along with
its Sumatran cousin, is also threatened by your biscuits!

Philippine crocodile, Paignton Zoo (May 2015). Only 250
of these are left in the wild, making it Critically
Endangered

 Obviously, it's not just the habitat loss that has put so many species at risk. Several species are targeted just for being them! The rhino is a famous example, with all species being frighteningly close to extinction (we now have already lost the western black, 5000 blacks, forty Javans, two hundred Sumatrans, three northern whites which cannot breed due to ill health, 20,000 southern whites and 2000 Indian rhinos). Even more sadistically, the horn for which a rhino is poached (used in Oriental traditional medicine), worth more than its weight in gold, is basically a giant finger nail or hair as it's made of keratin! An average of 96 elephants is poached in Africa every day for the tusks to turn into ivory trinkets. Several wild cats, from tigers to margay, are taken for their beautiful fur coats to turn into clothing. There are several species of crocodile that are endangered partly due to hunting for their hides, birds threatened due to the pet trade and amphibian populations at least partially threatened because of the pet trade.

Why Does It Matter?

What About the Economy?

I've also heard several times (and I'm sure you have, too) that environmental destruction is justified by the need for economic growth, which is something that is absolutely making me tear my hair out. Yes, building in place of a wetland may provide short term economic benefits. However, in the long run, environmental damages end up costing the global economy billions USD every year and looking

You wouldn't have water, air, food, medicine,
shelter or the economy without nature!
Taken on a field trip to the Eden Project,
October 2014

after the environment certainly reaps the benefits. Just some examples...
... spending billions on flood defences when natural habitats (bogs, marshes, coral reefs, mangroves, etc) can do it naturally and for free .
... charismatic species in their natural wild habitats attract tourists from all around the world to various countries.
... Soil degradation due to inadequate care and use costs the UK around £1billion a year
...Healthy fish stocks provide jobs and staple foods for millions around the world
... Rainforests are home to communities, provide plants for some pretty important medicines for deadly diseases, and are carbon sinks
... Vultures are worth millions to the Indian economy as carrion eaters, preventing the potential for disease and the incoming of pests such as rats.
... Insects and soil-dwelling creatures such as earth worms are natural recyclers, improving the quality of the soil and so increasing agricultural capacity
... Pollinators such as bees and butterflies provide the food on your table

I really could talk about this for ages, but I won't. I really don't like the idea of putting a price on nature as I think it should be protected in its own right, but if it's the only way of making a strong incentive to save our planet, then I'm in. To look after our environment, and the species that live in it, is absolutely vital.

What Can I Do?

- Be very careful of things like timber, paper, palm oil, and coffee. Where you can, buy a certified product (FSC for timber and paper, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance for coffee). There are a few companies that are palm oil free, one of the many reasons I adore Lush! There's also this awesome guide from The Rainforest Foundation that informs you about your consumer choices and palm oil.

- Stay clear of exotic pets. Even if they're legally sourced, it's creating a demand somewhere along the line (and with pets such as the primates, is generally awful for their welfare).

- Similarly, NEVER buy animal skin, especially not from reptiles and big cats

- Stay well away from genuine ivory

- Go on a wildlife trip. It doesn't have to be anywhere expensive or exotic; even your local RSPB reserve will help raise much-needed funds

- If you eat fish, check out this guide by the Marine Conservation Society

- Recycle, recycle, recyle! We know about recycling paper and cardboard, but what about your old phone, your food cans, etc? The demand and mining for fresh metal can be devastating for ecosystems. 

The Eden Project freshers field trip again <3

Love to the lemurs

Crowned lemur Epi with her son Ala (just 6 weeks old here), August 2014

Ghosts of Madagascar

In more ways than one...

I remember my first weekend volunteering at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury. It was mid-March 2014, and the theme was March for Madagascar. For the whole weekend, there was a lot of talk about lemurs, and the leader of the Aspinall Foundation's Madagascar conservation project came in for a special talk. There were quizzes, trivia and lots of activities revolving around lemurs, and I even got to feed a couple of lemurs. It was great fun, even if I did get very sun burnt. 

Aramis,seconds before he tried to undo my
shoelaces and steal my jacket! July 2015

18 months later, and I'm proud to say I still volunteer for the Aspinall Foundation when I'm home from Plymouth. The lemur walk-through enclosure is still one of my favourite parts of the park. It's huge, providing a habitat that is fairly similar to their native habitat, and quite good fun to walk around with the lemurs playing in the trees above your head, or staring at you from the railings. There are four species of lemur that live in the walk-through lemur enclosure. There's a family of black lemur who I'm not very familiar with. There's a family of crowned lemurs (Epi and King, their two-year-old daughter Valana and one-year-old son Ala), three male red-bellied lemurs (Angus, Hamish and Teddy) and a black-and-white ruffed lemur known as Aramis. Yesterday (13th August) I spent a good portion of my lunch break in that enclosure, watching the lemurs play in their indoor area as they sheltered from the rain. Despite having non-prehensile tails, they're amazingly agile, leaping in great bounds between their platforms (and when they're outside, between the trees, too). They're very playful, and very beautiful. That's why I wanted this post to be about lemurs.  

Epi (left) and her daughter Valana, as King photobombs behind
Epi!July 2015

One of the striking things about any lemur is the size of their amber eyes. If you've ever heard a lemur call out, you'll know that it's quite haunting, kind of like a high-pitched, other-worldly wail. These features are how the lemur got their name. Lemur means "ghost" in Malagasy. When humans arrived on the island of Madagascar 2,000 years ago, they thought that the creatures with eery cries and eyes glowing in the night rainforest were spirits. 

Sadly, "ghost" now appears to have a double meaning when it comes to lemurs. 

All of the species housed at Howletts are threatened with extinction.

Crowned lemur: ENDANGERED
Black lemur: VULNERABLE
Black-and-white ruffed lemur: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
Red-bellied lemur: VULNERABLE

Unfortunately, the trend continues, even with the more familiar species.

Ring-tailed lemur: ENDANGERED
Aye-Aye: ENDANGERED
Indri: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

There are around 100 species of lemur. As you can see here, a staggering 90% of these are threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered) and nearly 100% of them are declining in numbers. Since humans arrived in Madagascar, fourteen species of lemur have already gone extinct, including one that was the size of a western lowland gorilla. 

In grave danger... Even King Julian is at risk
(Paignton Zoo, May 2015)

Crowned sifaka at Port Lympne, April 2014. A very highly endangered
species indeed!

WHY AREN'T WE KICKING UP A STINK?!

What's Going On?

Precious... if we are to save lemurs, we must take immediate
action (Yorkshire Wildlife Park, April 2015)

All species of lemur are only found on the island of Madagascar. In fact, 90% of the life found in Madagascar is endemic to the country, as evolution took an entirely different route to mainland Africa when the two landmasses split over 100 million years ago. Unfortunately, an astonishingly high proportion of this wildlife is under threat. The country has lost well over 90% of its rainforest cover. The forest is cleared to make elbow room for agriculture with trees sold for cheap timber, and with an increasing human population, the pressures are mounting. But, while it's the most obvious and immediate threat to the lemurs and Madagascar's biodiversity, there are other factors at play here. 

Aye-aye (not my photo, credit goes to
Mark Carwardine)

While lemurs are protected by law, they are still killed. The aye-aye is a very strange species of lemur (photo credit to Mark Carwardine). In Malagasy tradition, it is a harbinger of death, and in an apparent attempt to protect themselves and their families, the lemur is often killed. There have also been cases of whole villages being abandoned and dead aye-ayes being passed between neighbours' gardens in order to avoid the curse. (Of course, the aye-aye is completely harmless.) The aye-aye is an Endangered species with very few remaining strongholds. Unlike the ring-tailed lemur, the aye-aye is notoriously difficult to look after, let alone breed, in captivity (that being said, a handful of good zoos, including Durrell Wildlife Park, have been successful). 

Again, while it's illegal to do so, around 30,000 lemurs were being kept as pets illegally in Madagascar in the period of 2011-2014, and there are fears about how many are being smuggled to other countries. It's worth noting that, as well as being harmful to the population, keeping pet primates isn't the best idea; as animals with high intelligence and complex needs, their welfare generally doesn't fare well in the keeping of pets and is (rightly) frowned upon. In addition to that, the amount of lemurs ending up in the bushmeat trade has alarmed conservationists in recent years. 

Lemurs are in so much trouble that they're now the most threatened mammal group on Earth. So why aren't we kicking up a stink!?

It's important to note that lemurs are economically important. They're charismatic and found nowhere else, so attract tourism to one of the world's poorest countries.

On the edge of existence. The greater bamboo lemur is Critically
Endangered and considered to be one of the world's 25 rarest primates.
Port Lympne (Howletts' sister park), July 2015

What Can I Do To Help?

A lot of conservation bodies are screaming louder and louder for lemurs to be protected. Education is now being implemented to ensure that young locals see lemurs as something worth protecting. Unfortunately, the fate of lemurs is URGENT and more needs to be done. They are in serious trouble, and there's no emphasising that enough. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to help lemurs. 

- Never buy a pet lemur (or for that matter, any primate, really). Even if you're sure you're buying one from a legal source, this is still a bad idea. For one, demand! Secondly, it's detrimental to their welfare, as these are animals with high intelligence and complex needs. 

- Be careful when buying wood and paper. Look for the FSC logo to make sure it's sustainably source.

- Educate yourself on the plight of lemurs, and spread the word. It seems that there is not enough awareness of what a dark position this group of primates are in.

- If you can, go on an eco-holiday to Madagascar. This is one of the poorest countries on Earth, and if you visit the lemurs in the wild, it'll create a larger incentive for the lemurs to be protected as well as bringing in some much needed money. 

Remember, lemurs are well worth saving!

Valana, July 2015

World Elephant Day

Mirembe (left), aged 3 months here, and her half-sister Manzi (September 2014)

Herd Life

7th June 2014, Howletts Wild Animal Park, Canterbury

24-hour-old Mirembe

It was a very wet and horrid Saturday morning, but one that I will remember for the rest of my days. In fact, I'd say that this date was possibly the best of my gap year, one of the best of my life. I'd just come to Howletts (one of the parks set up by the legendary late John Aspinall and now run by the Aspinall Foundation) for another day of volunteering, and because of the weather, there was hardly anyone around. Yet I was taken away when I was told that Tammi, one of the cows in the African elephant herd, had given birth to a calf that very morning. Later on in the day, I got to see this calf for the first time. She was eight hours old, covered in down, with her eyes looking enormous compared to the rest of her. My breath was taken away. She was beautiful. I have no pictures, obviously, of when she was eight hours old. However, I do have a picture of her at 24 hours old, when my family decided to spend an afternoon at the park.

Mchumba, the matriarch's son (April 2015)

Mirembe is Tammi's calf, as I've already said. Tammi also has two other daughters at the park, Uzuri (who is 7- I remember going to the park in February half term of 2008 when she was a week old) and Jara. These four ladies are part of a herd of thirteen, making it the largest herd of elephants in the UK. The matriarch is Masa (who has a young son called Mchumba), the bull is Jums (who, at nearly 4 metres tall and weighing in at practically 6 tons, is no little elephant!), and there is another mature female called Shibi. There is also Jama, Etana, Juluka, Impi and Manzi. The matriarch rules the roost, and she is the oldest and most experienced female. The herd is then made up of mature females, their daughters and immature males. Bulls can either be solitary or form bachelor groups. The herd life of an elephant is very complex, very social and just plain beautiful. It's not just how the African elephant is socialised, but in the smaller Asian elephant, too. 

Jama (left) and Etana, August 2015

   Two Types of Elephant

These days, there are two types of elephant that are very different from each other. There's the larger, more familiar African elephant, and there's the smaller, rarer Asian elephant. There are several differences between them, other than just size. These are just a few (as a list of differences between the two different types would be a blog post in itself!). 

African elephant

- Both genders grow visible tusks, which are generally larger in the males

- Has two "fingers" on its trunk 

- Enormous ears which reach over the neck

- Has no "humped" structures on its head

- Has more wrinkled skin 

Asian elephant

- Only males grow the tusks. Females will have either none or barely visible ones, adorably called "tushes"

- Has one "finger" on its trunk

- Comparatively tiny ears which do not reach over the neck

- Has humped structures on its head

- The skin is comparatively smooth skin

The matriarch Asian elephant at Whipsnade (9th August 2015)

Masa, the matriarch African elephant at Howletts (June 2015). Note
how different both ladies really are!

Elephants Under Threat

And Stuff You Can Do To Help

African elephants are classified as "Vulnerable" to extinction by the IUCN, whereas the Asian ele is "Endangered". We all know how they're very prone to poachers for their tusks which are sought after in the ivory trade. However, there are other factors at play here. 

- Fragmentation and disappearance of habitat

- Conflict with humans over resources

Asian elephants are also taken for elephant rides, which is also immensely cruel. This can explain it better than I can

You can help though...

- The most obvious one is to NEVER, EVER BUY IVORY!!! For that matter, don't buy any wildlife products either, as that endangers other wildlife, too.

- Be aware of products that harm elephant habitat (palm oil, non-Fair Trade coffee, etc)

- NEVER take part in the ride with elephant programs, and please discourage others from doing so

There is more here

Tammi and Mirembe (April 2015)

Wild Whipsnade

Endangered red panda (no relation to the giant panda) on the munch

 ZSL Whipsnade

Home to endangered species

Northern cheetah, a Critically Endangered subspecies
of cheetah

The summer evening sun shone on the coat of the northern cheetah, which, with fewer than 300 left in the wild, is a Critically Endangered subspecies of the cheetah (the cheetah, including all of its subspecies, is classed as Vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN). The beautiful cat's mouth opened slightly, and he pulled a face as he tasted the air and the gentle breeze ruffled the fur on his perfect shoulders. He then looked straight ahead of him, and realised that two people were watching him, taking photos, and he hadn't even seen us. For a moment, he stared at my father and I, before turning on us, swaggering across his enormous enclosure, out of sight to bed. 

Yesterday (9th August 2015), my family and I visited Whipsnade Zoo, and what a fantastic day it was, too. This huge place (so big that they offer you the chance to take your car into the park or to use their free bus service) has always been a family favourite. Run by the world famous and excellent Zoological Society of London, which works to protect and save a variety of endangered species and their habitats around the world, this place is packed full of wonderful exotic creatures in excellent facilities. It's not only the northern cheetah in their care that is so perilously close to extinction in the wild. In fact, a couple of the animals here are already extinct in the wild, due to human activity. 

Megafauna 

Elephants, rhinos, bears and more

One of the things I love so much about Whipsnade is how much room they give their animals. They vast amounts of space in interesting enclosures designed to enrich the animals. This is particularly important if you look after the second largest land animal, and have ten of them, too. 

Whipsnade gives its Asian elephants about six or seven acres of land to live in, divided into sand and grass paddocks. To give them additional exercise, the keepers walk them around the zoo (and at 600 acres, that is a lot of walking!). We didn't see the walk itself this time (although last year, we saw the elephants holding each others' tails as the keepers led the way); however, we did see the keepers driving around in the evening, shoveling up the poop that they'd left on the roads. And what beautiful creatures the elephants are, too. 

The matriarch decides to wear her dinner,
not eat it!

Two of the calves. The smallest was
born in September last year.

We all know about the African elephant and how they're hunted for their tusks. However, the Asian elephant is much, much rarer, listed as Endangered rather than Vulnerable. They're also threatened by habitat loss as well as the ivory trade. Unlike the African elephants (which I'm very familiar with- the wildlife park I volunteer for has thirteen in its care and I often spend my lunch breaks watching the calves play), where both genders have the tusks, only male Asian elephants have them. In females, tusks seldom erupt; if they do, they are barely visible and are adorably called 'tushes'. This species also has significantly smaller ears, and only one 'finger' on its trunk (compared to two on the Africans).

There are also two species of rhino in their care. You have the white rhino and the Indian rhino here. 

White rhino

If you've ever seen a white rhino, you'll notice that it's not really white (and nor is a black rhino black). I love the story of how the white rhino got its name. When Europeans first arrived in South Africa, they heard the Africans call the rhinos "wye", which actually means "wide" in Afrikaans, referring to the wide lips of the rhino (which are evident in the photo above). However, it was mistranslated as "white"! The black rhino, the other African species of rhino, is different from the white rhino in the way that it has a hook-shaped lip. White rhinos will eat nothing but grass, and their lips are designed for grazing. Black rhinos go for branches. And now you know the difference between the two.

Indian rhino

The Indian rhino is quite a fascinating animal. These are probably my favourite rhino species. It looks like something out of Jurassic Park with its armour plating, singular short, stubby horn and huge hooked lip. There are fewer than 3,000 of these gorgeous animals left in the wild, and like all rhinos, are threatened for hunting for their horns for traditional Oriental medicine (the horns are made of keratin, the same protein as our hair and nails). As jungle and wetland dwellers, they are also threatened by habitat loss. The other two Asian rhino species, the Javan and the Sumatran, are even rarer, with populations numbering 40 (no I didn't miss a zero there) and around 200 respectively.  The rhinos here all have separate paddocks, being solitary animals in the wild, and have heated pools as well. This species of rhino is definitely the most aquatic of the rhinos- I have a photo somewhere from last year of one of them just relaxing in the pool as it poured with rain, and all you can see is the back, ears, nose and horn! They'll even sometimes dive for food in the water.  

18-month-old common hippo

The zoo is also home to both species of hippo, the pygmy (which is highly endangered) and the so-called common (which is actually classed as Vulnerable to extinction). I adore hippos, in a way I can't explain. Sadly, I didn't get a decent one of the two pygmies, as they were both fast asleep in their shed. However, the common hippos were very photogenic, and we had the pleasure of seeing Holly the 18-month-old hippo (who'd grown up considerably since we saw her a year ago!). 

Wallowing common hippo (don't worry, the algae in the water
is good for the animal's skin and the water is not dirty!)

The park is also home to a few cats (Eurasian lynx, the northern cheetah I've already talked about as well as the usual African lions and Amur tigers). There are a couple of delightful sloth bears (which I've never been able to photograph- they move way too quickly!), and three European brown bears. 

A European brown bear

Rare ungulates

Hoofstock in danger

Extinct in the wild- a Scimitar horned
oryx

I mentioned at the beginning of the blog post that the zoo houses several critically endangered species, and that a couple are already extinct in the wild. You may or may not have heard about the scimitar horned oryx, which is extinct in the wild. These beautiful antelopes used to be found all over North Africa, until factors including hunting for their wonderful horns drove them to extinction in the region. Thankfully, a fair few were still living in zoos. Now there is an international breeding program, and there are protected, highly maintained reserves in North Africa where captive individuals have been sent with the ultimate goal of re-population. Imagine our delight when we saw a very young calf in the herd here.

Another species here that is extinct in the wild is the Pere David's deer. If I remember what I read in a book by Jane Goodall correctly, they used to found in China, and, again were driven to extinction by human activity. I don't have a decent photo as they were so far away, but they are beautiful animals. Again, it's only because there were some in zoos that there are any left in the world at all. 

Young Bactrian camel

 The Bactrian camel, a Critically Endangered species, can also be found here, including youngsters. These wonderful camels are found in China and Mongolia, and are threatened by habitat loss, and are sometimes shot for sport. Hybridization with domestic camels also puts their survival into question, and are already extinct in Kazakhstan.

Again, I have no photos of these guys, but the Przewalski's wild horse also resides here. Found in Central Asia, they were once extinct in the wild, but due to breeding programs and release projects in zoos around the world, a few have been reintroduced to Mongolia in protected reserves. They are an ancient species of wild horse, and truly beautiful.

Other Beautiful Creatures

Yemen chameleon

African dwarf crocodile

Black-footed penguin

Atlas moth

Oriental short-clawed otter

Common lime swallow-tail

Rockhopper penguin

Ocean World

A winter evening in Plymouth, which dubs itself
Britain's "Ocean City". Drake's Island and
Cornwall are in the background.

Ocean City

Cormorant found near the Hoe

During term time in Plymouth, one of the best things to do between lectures or after a long day was to head to the waterfront. Between the Barbican and the Hoe, there is the old ampitheatre and the Lido, providing plenty of opportunities to sit, dip your toes in the water (if you dare) and relax, just chatting and watching the waves, listening to the oystercatchers and the seagulls, and sometimes, if you're lucky, spotting seals. It was always such a relaxing thing to do with my friends, and one of the many little things I miss about being in Plymouth. On rough sea days, we'd play "chicken" on the steps between the lido and the ampitheatre, hanging our legs (without shoes! We wanted to do it properly!) over the water and seeing who would screech and pull their legs away first when the freezing cold water would hit us. Then we'd go to the 5pm lecture completely sodden and smelling of seaweed! The views are stunning. In one direction, you have Mount Batten and the cliffs that lead to beautiful South Devon if you carry on the South West Coast Path. In another, you have Drake's Island and Cornwall.

Lesser spotted dogfish, aka the
small-spotted catshark, in the National
Marine Aquarium

Plymouth's history is largely maritime. Francis Drake lived and spotted the Armada from here (hence why so many streets and shops in the city are called "Armada something" and my first year halls of residence were named after the bloke himself). Charles Darwin set off from the harbour on his mission. The Mayflower set sail from the Barbican with the Pilgrim brothers for America in the 17th century (although the *real* Mayflower steps are actually in the lady's toilets of a pub on the Barbican!). The largest naval base in Western Europe is based in Devonport, one of the districts of Plymouth, and it's not unusual to be having breakfast in a cafe on the Hoe with your friends and just watching a submarine or a bloody huge battleship gliding through the water past your window. Understandably and rather fittingly, Plymouth brands itself as the Ocean City.  

Female sand tiger shark <3 Sharks are absolutely
beautiful. Long may they live

On the Barbican, there is also the world famous National Marine Aquarium. It's a beautiful place, and there are several species there to brighten up a dull afternoon. A beautiful corridor full of jellyfish showcasing their life cycle (from polyp to adult medusa) in different tanks, the Eddystone tank (displaying small sharks such as dogfish and smoothhounds as well as an assortment of eels, cod and rays) and the Atlantic tank, with its collection of awesome predatory fish, are some of the highlights. My favourites are the sand tiger and the nurse sharks- you could watch them for absolutely ages. I have a huge soft spot for sharks, and every time I feel my eyes following their movement around the tank, I wish that I could dive with them.

Oystercatcher on Mount Batten

From the Barbican, you can also catch an adorable little yellow ferry which takes you across to the peninsula of Mount Batten. Despite the fact that you can see the city centre from the beach and promenade, it's surprisingly tranquil here. There are some incredible rockpools on the beach, so good that one of our field trips was actually based there (and one of the most memorable parts, along with being frozen, playing with the hermit crabs and posing for pictures with a cushion starfish, was the decaying young porpoise about halfway up the beach!!!).

Britain's Seas

Grey seal in Coverack, Cornwall,
June 2015

Here in Britain, we're lucky enough to say that we're never more than seventy miles from the sea. A lot of people don't realise the extraordinary biodiversity that we have lurking under those waves. 

• 20 species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises)- including minke, fin (the world's second largest animal), orca, long-finned pilot and humpback whales, common, bottlenose and Risso's dolphins and the harbour porpoise
• 30 species of shark and ray- including blue, mako, thresher, basking (the world's second largest fish), tope and dogfish. 
• Half of the world's population of grey seals, and a sizable number of the harbour seal
• Curious species such as ocean sunfish (the world's largest bony fish), seahorses and even leatherback sea turtles
• 90% of manx sheerwaters and 60% of great skuas, as well as several other species of seabird such as puffins

Unfortunately, our sea life is majorly threatened  

Juvenile ocean sunfish in Penzance, June 2015

Unfortunately, just like the majority of British wildlife, our marine life is threatened, too. Marine pollution, relentless overfishing, litter, material extraction and so many other factors are pushing our sea life to breaking point. Climate change is thought to be the reason behind new species normally found further south venturing into our seas on a more and more frequent basis, as well as our own species heading northwards to cooler waters. The reason we're seeing so many jellyfish in the waters is because we have created the perfect ocean for them. Globally, over 90% of the larger predatory fish have been removed. The waters are becoming nutrient rich due to pollution, giving the jellies more plankton to feed on. The seas are warming. The seas are perfect for jellyfish, but it's a sure sign that our seas are in trouble. 

SHARKS ARE NOT MAN EATERS!

Repeat after me: sharks are not man eaters! 

It's true. Sharks are not man eaters. A lot of these "attacks" that you see on the news are a case of mistaken identity. From their perspective, from under the waves, a person on a surfboard looks a lot like a seal. Besides, a lot of these "attacks" are really just the shark trying to identify what, exactly, they are looking at.  They don't have hands like we do. Their way of testing something is to use their teeth to feel the object, before letting go.  Last year, 3 people were killed by sharks. Every year, we kill in excess of 100 million sharks. 

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

There are a few things you can do to help. 

- If you're a fish eater, make sure you're eating accredited sustainable fish. The Marine Conservation Society has an amazing list of sustainable fish here. http://www.mcsuk.org/downloads/fisheries/fishweek/FishWeek_FishList_Jan2011.pdf

- Where possible, avoid using plastic bags. 

- Don't use pesticides or herbicides. Again, they're dangerous to a lot of wildlife, but this is especially important for marine life if you live near a water source as the rain will cause run-off!

- Take part in beach clean ups, or do one yourself (remember to wear good gloves to protect yourself from sharp objects and germs)

- NEVER pick a pet fish that has come from the wild! If you're not sure, ask the supplier. Never buy unless you're completely certain. The pet trade has been devastating for some marine ecosystems, especially where tropical fish are concerned.  Also, NEVER release your pet fish into the wild, as it could have a negative impact on the local, wild ecosystem. 

FURTHER READING

http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-news/how-you-can-help-ocean

https://www.mcsuk.org/

Jewel anemone, Mount Batten, May 2015