Rabies Jumps to the Sea! The Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus), an iconic marine mammal along South Africa’s coastline, has recently faced an alarming health challenge: outbreaks of rabies. Rabies, typically associated with terrestrial mammals like dogs and bats, has crossed into the marine realm, raising questions about its origins, transmission, and broader ecological implications. The outbreak [...]
Five animals that are smarter than humans: When we think of intelligence, we often place humans at the top of the list, but the animal kingdom is full of creatures whose smarts are nothing short of astonishing. From solving complex problems to displaying deep emotional connections, animals show us time and again that intelligence comes in [...]
Tahlequah and the Truth About Orca Emotions Tahlequah, an orca from the endangered Southern Resident population, has once again captured global attention with her profound mourning after the tragic loss of her newborn calf. This heartbreaking event follows her widely publicized grief in 2018, when she carried her deceased calf for 17 days, refusing to let [...]
Shark Secrets: The Astonishing Story of Yoko’s Birth On the 3rd of January 2025, a baby swell shark named Yoko was born at the Shreveport Aquarium in Louisiana. The fascinating part is that the tank does not house any male sharks, only two females. These females have not encountered a male in over three years! So, [...]
Sharks: the wolves of the ocean may seem an unlikely comparison to Yellowstone’s famous wolves, but both demonstrate the crucial role apex predators play in healthy ecosystems. A remarkable ecological story unfolded in Yellowstone National Park when wolves were reintroduced in 1995 after a 70-year absence. Their return did more than restore balance to the park’s wildlife—it physically [...]
Orcas Hunting Whale Sharks: A Rare Oceanic Encounter Recently, a certain apex predator has created quite a buzz online by targeting one of the ocean’s most beautiful gentle giants. On November 29th, a published scientific article spotlighted a pod of orcas, also known as killer whales, in the Gulf of California that appear to specialize in [...]
Bronze Whaler Sharks Shark cage diving with Bronze Whaler Sharks offers the chance to encounter one of the large predatory shark species found around the South African coastline. Bronze Whaler Sharks can grow to around 3.5 metres in length, with particularly large individuals approaching 4 metres. Their name comes from their distinctive bronze-grey colouring. The term “whaler” is linked historically [...]
Gansbaai, South Africa, is famous around the world for its sharks. While the great white shark may be the species that first put this small coastal town on the map, it is certainly not the only impressive predator found in these waters. One of our favourite visitors is the bronze whaler shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus), affectionately known in South Africa as [...]
Shark Anatomy – Part 2 Great White Shark Anatomy Those of you who read our last blog will know how amazing sharks are! The way the skin works, the gills, the teeth and a lot more! Let’s explore the Shark’s internal anatomy and physiology. But what about the internal anatomy of a shark? How does that [...]
Shark Internal Anatomy – Part 1 We all know that sharks are pretty amazing, but why? What are their secrets? Well, let’s find them out today and explore a shark’s internal anatomy Cartilage Sharks are fish that have no bones, only cartilage. Cartilage is flexible and durable, yet it is about half the [...]
Every year tourists flock to Gansbaai (The Great White Capital of the World) to cage dive with the infamous great white shark. However, this area is rich in biodiversity and great white sharks may not be the only shark species you see around here if you look hard enough. White Shark Projects believe that education is key to aiding conservation, [...]
What is Shark Finning? Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most often still alive when it is tossed back into the water. Unable to swim, the shark slowly sinks toward the bottom where it is eaten alive by other fish. Shark finning takes place [...]
Great white ID Quite simply, great whites are grey on top with a white underbelly – for perfect camouflage from above and below. The white belly blends in with the sky and the dark back blends in with the rocks below. Great white addresses Great whites swim the oceans of the world. Concentrations, or 'hot spots', are found in the temperate [...]
https://youtu.be/l0e3gUbWAhg Effective up to 25 meters 10 times greater than humans in clear water Eyes very similar to humans – cornea , lens, retina, iris, pupil Contains rods and cones so can detect colour and see in low light – new research (2011) shows not all sharks have the same cones cells, bull sharks cannot see in colour. Tapetum lucidum [...]
