Latest news with #marinewildlife
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Beloved manatee dies after 54+ years due to watercraft collision
Paddy Doyle, a beloved manatee and long-term adoptee with the Save the Manatee Club, died from a collision with a watercraft near Jacksonville in April, according to officials. Paddy was one of the oldest documented manatees, having first been spotted at Blue Spring in 1971 before it became a protected sanctuary. Save the Manatee Club's Manatee Specialist, Wayne Hartley, remembers him as one of the first 18 manatees studied when genealogical research began there in 1980. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< He would visit Blue Spring every winter and summer months, and appeared in mating herds in Lake Monroe. 'Over the course of his lifetime, he dodged countless boats, adjusted to a changing environment as development in Florida expanded and experienced many changes to the environment of the St. Johns River that he was born into,' said STMC. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Over the years, additional protections to preserve manatees were implemented at Blue Spring and St. Johns River. 'Paddy Doyle is leaving behind a lasting legacy and will be sorely missed by so very many.' Below is a tribute video created by the Save The Manatee Club: [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
10 Best Aquariums Around the World to Visit
Father with daughter watching sharks in aquarium Oceans are often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth" because they play a crucial role in producing 50%-80% of the oxygen in our atmosphere and they absorb a significant amount of carbon dioxide, helping to regulate the Earth's climate. The growing interest in the welfare of our marine life and oceans has undoubtedly led to increased visits of the world's aquariums. While some aquariums focus primarily on entertainment, others are crucial for education, conservation and scientific research. Ethical aquariums aim to inspire ocean conservation, rehabilitate injured marine life and support research efforts that help protect vulnerable species. Here are ten of the world's best aquariums that do a good job in balancing entertainment and ethics. Underwater tunnel at Oceanografic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain The biggest aquarium in Europe, located in the stunning City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, is worth a visit for the architecture alone. The futuristic design features gleaming white concrete, glass and water in a complex of five buildings designed by famous Spanish architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela in 1998. The Oceanogràfic building houses around 45,000 animals and 500 species. The aquarium consists of ten different habitats, including a Mediterranean environment, the Arctic Ocean, the Red Sea and the tropics. A highlight is the longest underwater tunnel in Europe where you feel you're swimming with fish all around you, including beluga whales, Angel Sharks, Barrel Jellyfish and Blacktip reef sharks. Oceanário de Lisbon is located in Parque das Nações Opened in 1998, the Lisbon Oceanarium's permanent exhibition One Planet, One Ocean is a wonderful multi-sensory experience. The central aquarium represents the 'global ocean' and hosts about 500 species from four oceans, surrounded by four distinct marine habitats. Visitors can meet various species of sharks, sea otters, sunfish, puffins, sea dragons, clownfish, eels, rays and stunning corals, among many others. The aquarium is located in the Dock of Olivais, in the Park of Nations (the site of the 1998 World Expo) and has an excellent restaurant, SeaTheFuture, featuring a menu of organic, seasonal products from local producers. The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco The Musée Océanographique de Monaco opened by Prince Albert I in 1910, has one of the oldest aquariums in the world. From the start, the museum attracted the world-leading oceanographers (including Jacques Cousteau, director from 1957-1988) who developed the concept of a future Mediterranean Commission dedicated to oceanography, now called Mediterranean Science Commission. Four aquariums, specially designed to recreate complex ecosystems, include: the shark lagoon against the bright colors of a coral reef; the Mediterranean sea with 100 of the 650 species of fish living in the Mediterranean and more than 200 species of invertebrates; the tropical sea with deadly stonefish, clown fish and the unnerving moray eel. Red Blood Parrot in Monterey Bay Aquarium, California, USA Since opening in 1984, in a lovely oceanfront location, the aim of the nonprofit Monterey Bay Aquarium has been to inspire conservation of the ocean through its exhibits and research. When it opened, it was the largest public aquarium in the United States and the first in the world to exhibit a living kelp forest and to successfully care for and display a great white shark. Today the 28 feet tall and 65 feet long Kelp Forest exhibit is one of the main attractions of the aquarium. The Open Sea wing is also essential viewing, featuring three separate galleries with various jellyfish and other plankton found in the bay plus tufted puffins and sea turtles. Yellow Fish in S.E.A. Aquarium, Singapore With over 100,000 marine animals and 1,000 species distributed in 40 different environments, S.E.A. Aquarium which opened in 2012, is the fourth largest aquarium in the world. A highlight is the 36-meter underwater tunnel that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the water, viewing hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, giant groupers and the red-bellied pacu, a native species to Asia. The aquarium also houses rare and endangered species like the Bow mouth Guitarfish, Moray Eel and Blue Tang. Also on show are unique corals like the Bubble Coral and Sun Coral with explanations of the importance of coral reefs in the marine ecosystem. The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta Expect to see a wide range of the world's most fascinating animals and sea creatures from the African Penguin, Beluga Whale, California Sea Lion, Common Bottlenose Dolphin, Tiger Shark and Whale Shark. And speaking of the latter, this aquarium was actually designed around a whale shark exhibit, making it the first aquarium outside of Asia that hosts the giant species. The Georgia Aquarium, the largest in the world on opening in 2005, is on land donated by the Coca-Cola Company, just north of Centennial Olympic Park. Group of fishes and coral at Sea Life Aquarium, Sydney, Australia As one of world's newest aquariums, having opened in 2023, visitors can see over 4,000 animals from 300 different species, including large species such as tiger sharks and orcas. One of Sea Life e's highlights is the world's largest variety of Australian aquatic life, a rescue dugong called Pig. Another popular attraction is the Penguin Expedition Boat Ride, where you can see a spectacular colony of king and gentoo penguins. Also unmissable is the Great Barrier Reef exhibit, the largest in the world. National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, UK The largest aquarium in the UK, the National Marine Aquarium, is home to over 4,000 animals and features groundbreaking ocean conservation work, according to its website. The aquarium is also home to the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the ocean. There are lots of different exhibits and animals found in this harborfront museum. One exhibit shows some of the stunning and colorful animals found locally in the rockpools around the coast. The Eddystone Reef exhibit features local sharks and stingrays while the Ocean Drifters exhibit features mesmerising jellyfish. National Aquarium, Copenhagen, Denmark The striking architecture of Denmark's national aquarium, Den Bla Planet, which opened in 2013 was inspired by a whirlpool with visitors entering into the vortex – the curved lobby – and from here are drawn out to the 53 aquariums and installations. Inside you'll see what is described as 'the big five' – sea otters, hammerhead sharks, stingrays, giant Pacific octopus and the arapaima (one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.) Penguins in Alesund Aquarium, Norway Since 1998, the Atlanterhavsparken Foundation has been one of Northern Europe's largest and most unique saltwater aquariums. Animals and fish live in unfiltered water straight from the sea outside. The Atlantic Tank is one of Europe's largest saltwater tanks where you'll see all the large cold-water fish that live in our oceans. The aquarium is located in one of the world's most scenic locations, in Norway's western fjords. After exploring the aquarium, hike up to the Fjellstua Viewpoint. Be prepared for several hundred steps to get to the top but the views over the town and sea are worth the effort.
CNN
4 days ago
- General
- CNN
Elephant seal in Cape Town finds its way into suburbia, stops traffic
A Southern elephant seal makes a surprise visit to the residential neighborhood of Gordon's Bay in Cape Town, South Africa, and triggers an almost nine-hour rescue effort to return him to the coast.
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
2-ton elephant seal takes "unexpected journey" into residential area in South Africa before safely returning to sea
A large elephant seal took a wrong turn and was seen lumbering along a street in a coastal town in South Africa early Tuesday, surprising residents and inspiring a rescue effort to get him back to sea. The two-ton seal, which an animal welfare group said was a young male, was making his way through a suburb of Gordon's Bay near Cape Town. Locals came out of houses and recorded videos. "This is unreal. Hi, bro, how did you get here?" one woman asked. Members of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) watch an elephant seal cornered on a street in Gordon's Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. / AP Police and a local security company attempted to contain the seal by parking patrol cars around him. He rested his huge head on the hood of one car and half-climbed over another before slipping free, crossing a road and carrying on up a sidewalk. The seal eventually stopped next to a shopping mall. Animal welfare officials worried he was too far from the ocean to find his way back and might become exhausted and dehydrated. They estimated he weighed around two tons (4,400 pounds). Elephant seals can grow to twice that size. According to the local Cape of Good Hope SPCA, southern elephant seals are the world's largest seal species and are commonly found in sub-Antarctic regions — not South Africa. But every once in a while, lone elephants seals -- usually young males -- make their way to South Africa's coast. A team of marine wildlife specialists and a city veterinarian sedated the seal and guided him into an animal transport trailer to be returned to his natural habitat at a nearby bay. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA later posted a video on social media of the seal making his way down a beach and toward the ocean. "Sea you later," the video said. Staff members of the Marine Unit with Shark Spotters facilitate the transportation of an elephant seal that found its way into a residential area in Gordon's Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. AP "Wild animals don't always follow the script, and this seal's unexpected journey into a residential area created real cause for concern," Belinda Abraham, spokesperson for the local SPCA, said in a statement. "With so many moving parts — traffic, onlookers, and a massive marine mammal in distress — it took rapid coordination and clear focus to keep everyone safe."
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘How did you get here?' A large elephant seal is found lumbering along a South African street
Members of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) watch an elephant seal cornered on a street in Gordon's Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (AP Photo) CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A large elephant seal took a wrong turn and was seen lumbering along a street in a coastal town in South Africa early Tuesday, surprising residents and inspiring a rescue effort to get him back to sea. The two-ton seal, which an animal welfare group said was a young male, was making his way through a suburb of Gordon's Bay near Cape Town. Locals came out of houses and recorded videos. 'This is unreal. Hi, bro, how did you get here?' one woman asked. Police and a local security company attempted to contain the seal by parking patrol cars around him. He rested his huge head on the hood of one car and half-climbed over another before slipping free, crossing a road and carrying on up a sidewalk. The seal eventually stopped next to a shopping mall. Animal welfare officials worried he was too far from the ocean to find his way back and might become exhausted and dehydrated. They estimated he weighed around two tons (4,400 pounds). Elephant seals can grow to twice that size. A team of marine wildlife specialists and a city veterinarian sedated the seal and guided him into an animal transport trailer to be returned to his natural habitat at a nearby bay. The local Cape of Good Hope SPCA later posted a video on social media of the seal making his way down a beach and toward the ocean. 'Sea you later,' the video said. The Associated Press
