Latest news with #OliverScheele
Miami Herald
28-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Extremely rare' sea creature seen hunting off Australia by drone pilot. See it
A drone pilot in Australia recently captured footage of a highly elusive sea creature on the hunt. The incident took place off the coast of Magnetic Island, located a few miles offshore from mainland Queensland. While flying an aerial drone low over the ocean, Oliver Scheele spotted an Australian snubfin dolphin pursuing a fish. A video posted by Scheele shows the pale-bodied marine mammal breaching the surface and making hair-pin turns while tracking the fish. 'These dolphins are extremely rare, living in inshore areas,' Scheele wrote in a May 19 Instagram post. 'They are a vulnerable species due to human impacts.' 'Seeing these dolphins was a privilege as they are so rare,' he told Yahoo News. Scheele's brother, a marine biologist, told the outlet this is the first sighting the pair have made of the species, following six years of searching. An 'extremely rare' species Australian snubfin dolphins were only discovered as a distinct species in 2005, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation, a non-profit. Prior to that, they were thought to be a secluded population of Irrawaddy dolphins, another rare species native to Southeast Asia. 'There are clear differences between the two populations that had not been previously recognized and these were confirmed by the studies on DNA,' a researcher who helped uncover the species told NBC News in 2005. The relatively newfound creatures are distinguished by their round, melon-shaped heads, light coloring and small dorsal fins — from which their 'snubfin' name is derived. The animals — which can grow up to nearly 9 feet in length and weigh up to 280 pounds — are found along stretches of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Because they prefer shallow, coastal waters, they are at risk from human activity and are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The marine species is classified as protected in the waters off Australia and 'their future remains uncertain,' according to Dolphin Research Australia, a non-profit conservation organization. The animals are generally sheepish around boats, and they have been seen displaying a peculiar spitting behavior, which 'remains a mystery.' Much else about the dolphins, including the specifics of their reproductive habits, remains unknown.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Rare shark's 'surprising' behaviour filmed off Aussie island in 'amazing encounter'
A rare creature's entertaining behaviour off the coast of a popular Aussie island has left a local shaking with excitement. Last week, Oliver Scheele was flying his drone around Magnetic Island, near Townsville, 'surveying and looking for ocean wildlife' — as he does often — when he caught site of an endangered scalloped hammerhead hunting during high tide. Incredible footage shows the hungry shark frantically trying to find something to eat on the water's surface. At one point it even munches on a leaf, only to spit it out moments later. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Oliver said the 'amazing encounter' left him stunned as he struggled to keep the drone steady due to his excitement. 'I was definitely surprised by its behaviour, that's one of the reasons I was so excited as well as the conditions being stellar,' he said. 'You're always on edge during these fleeting moments since you never know what the animal is going to do or how long you'll see it for. 'The stars really have to align to get visuals like it — you've got wind, water clarity, animal behaviour on the surface etcetera — truly an amazing experience. So with all that it in mind it was very hard to keep calm!' 🦈 Locals in awe as rarely-seen creature washes up on remote beach 🌊 Incredible footage of special creature 'very rarely seen in Australia' 🛥️ Warning after 'unusual sightseer' in Sydney Harbour worries locals While scalloped hammerhead sharks are relatively rare to see given they are globally classified as critically endangered, they can be found off the coast of New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. 'Although it seems hard to believe, endangered scalloped and great hammerheads are still fished for fins and flesh in the waters of the Northern Territory and Western Australia,' according to the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Luckily for Oliver, he's spotted a total of three scalloped hammerhead sharks cruising around Magnetic Island over the years. 'There's a local that comes into Horseshoe Bay most dusks and dawns. It's always exciting to see a hammerhead pop up!' he said, suggesting local sharks species are attracted to trawlers that are often seen in the area. 'You can see the sharks feeding on small dead fish floating. Sharks really love easy meals so if they catch a scent, they will follow. Also being creatures of habit they will patrol areas that proved successful in the past.' Unfortunately, Oliver said the hammerhead he filmed last week was 'really close to the drumlines', and he feared it would become entangled, as others previously have. 'The drumlines don't discriminate on what they catch — they are a huge threat for endangered shark populations,' the local told Yahoo, claiming marine life can often become stuck for hours or even a full day. 'Hammerheads have a low tolerance to stress so safe releases are uncommon,' he added. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
