Nature/Wildlife
We live busy lives, often in urban settings, so when the time comes for a vacation, many of us know that the best thing to do is to turn to nature. Nothing blows the cobwebs away more than a trek in the mountains or communing with creatures in the deep forest. Whether peering into a volcano, riding horseback along a trail, or spotting wildlife on a river cruise, something deep within us needs to feel connected to the natural world. All regions of the world present opportunities for enjoying nature.
In cooler temperate climates you may seek out snow-capped mountains such as the Alps, while equatorial regions offer the dense jungles of Asia or the vast plains of Africa. Anywhere animals live free offers us the chance to witness their majesty and understand better our place in the natural order. We can give ourselves privileged memories of seeing lions, elephants and gorillas on safari, or witness orangutans, monkeys and birds in the trees of the rainforest. The oceans and coastlines of the world offer opportunities for encounters with whales, dolphins, penguins, seals and more. Nature is always good for the soul.
New Hawaii Reef Fish Named After President Obama
American President, Barak Obama, has been honoured by having a new species of fish named after him. The small pink and yellow coral fish has received the official scientific name, Tosanoides obama. This new species was discovered on a dive to 300 feet at Kure Atoll,...
Philippines Declares Largest Marine Protected Area!
The Philippines has declared new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) totaling over a million hectares (approximately 2,676,990 acres). The new MPAs include a staggering 1,013,340 hectares in Cagayancillo and an additional 80,000 of Aborlan in the province of Palawan. These...
A Win For Sharks and Rays at Cites Conference
The triennial Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) meeting wrapped up in Johannesburg, South Africa, last week. The 17th Conference was attended by delegates from most of the 182 member countries as well as a host of...
Maldives’ Incredible Manta Mania!
Most divers have a ‘must see wish list’ and if I was a gambler, I’d bet that diving with majestic manta rays would feature in the top 5 of every diver’s list. Who wouldn’t want to swim with gentle giants (that can reach an incredible 8...
Hawaii – Home To World’s Largest National Park
United States President, Barack Obama, has focused on his home state of Hawaii as part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The White House announced the monumental decision to increase the size of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine...
Lionfish Invade The Americas
The alluring lionfish draws in both photography enthusiasts and prey alike. These unique fish are native in the Indo-Pacific, here they have natural predators and their numbers are kept in check. Unfortunately there are now established populations across a vast...
See Where Cenderawasih Whale Sharks Are Now!
"The Galapagos of Indonesia’s reefs", Indonesia’s Cenderawasih Bay earned its name due to the diversity of marine species that calls this incredible area ‘home’. An innovative project by Conservation International has highlighted that many young male whale sharks,...
Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet
Last week there were many reports and posts across social media acknowledging World Oceans Day. Some highlighted the beauty and majesty of our planet’s oceans, its animals and plants; others were focused on how we are slowly killing this life giving resource....
‘Shellebrating’ World Turtle Day
World Turtle Day was started in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue organisation. The aim of this special day is to share information about this species and create respect for tortoises and turtles that will enable them to survive and thrive. Here are ten fascinating...