Rare seahorse numbers reach post-pandemic high
The absence of boats and people in Studland Bay during lockdown meant seahorse numbers peaked in 2020 but quickly diminished when restrictions were eased.
Volunteers regularly monitor the habitat to assess the impact of eco-moorings, which have been installed to stop boat anchors damaging the seagrass habitat.
The Seahorse Trust said the latest survey had recorded 17 of the creatures on the seabed.
Neil Garrick-Maidment of the Seahorse Trust said: "It is fantastic news that we found so many.
"Half were males and most of them were pregnant, so it shows the eco-moorings are working.
"There is still a long way to go in protecting this amazing site, and the seahorses on it, but we are going in the right direction."
Seahorses are legally protected by law, and anyone looking for them - either snorkelling or diving - requires a licence.
Immediately after the Covid lockdown, one official dive counted 21 seahorses.
Mr Garrick-Maidment said: "We worked out that the site was holding 46 seahorses then but sadly, within weeks of lockdown unlocking, the seahorses were gone."
The eco-moorings installed by the Seahorse Trust, Boatfolk and the Studland Bay Marine Partnership cost about £100,000 a year to maintain.
Boat users pay £7.50 to moor there for four hours, or £15 for 24 hours, or £150 for a seasonal pass. There is also an option to pay more to help support the conservation work.
The trust is also appealing for donations to install more moorings.
You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Breeding seahorses delay harbour wall repairs
Giant seahorse find 'one of biggest ever recorded'
Eco-moorings to protect seahorses set to double
The Seahorse Trust
Boatfolk - eco-mooring
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2Fgonex-packing-cubes-helped-tout-1cadeb83d31c44498c81a0b27b81a83f.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
3 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
I Spent a Week in Europe With Just a Carry-on—and This $20 Flight Attendant-approved Hack Made It Possible
As someone who typically prefers to travel with just a carry-on bag, I've tried pretty much every packing hack to fit as much as possible into my suitcase. A glance inside will uncover shirts wound around hair tools, socks stuffed into shoes, and dresses tightly rolled into every crevice. I've become so confident in my ability to stuff a suitcase that I've typically been skeptical of packing cubes—that is, until my last Europe trip. You see, when I was recently packing for a near-week-long London trip, my usual methods weren't cutting it. Despite planning out my outfits for every day and night of the trip, my carry-on suitcase was overflowing. I decided to try packing with the Gonex Compression Packing Cubes, which are flight attendant-approved and on sale, and much to my delight, everything that I'd laid out to pack now fit in my carry-on. Apart from their space-saving magic, I'm impressed by how easy Gonex packing cubes are to use. They open from the top, allowing you to stuff in as many clothes as possible (which, trust me, I did), and close it like a pouch. Then, you simply push down on the cubes and use an extra zipper to manually compress them. All together, it's extremely satisfying to witness in action. I have the pink packing cubes, but this four-piece set comes in 19 styles total, including more neutral colors and a fun floral pattern that I'm tempted to order myself. They're sold in three sets depending on your packing needs: A four-piece packing cubes set, a five-piece set, and a six-piece set that includes four packing cubes, a toiletry bag, and a shoe bag. I opted for the four-piece set that includes one 17.3-inch by 13-inch extra-large pouch, plus the large, medium, and small packing cubes. The brand recommends that you pack larger items like jeans and sweaters into the larger cubes, while the smaller sizes can be used for socks and underwear. All four cubes are designed to fit together into your carry-on like a puzzle. However, my personal favorite way to use them is to start with the extra-large cube and work my way down if I feel I need more space. I've found that the largest cube fits perfectly into one side of my go-to Away Bigger Carry-on. The Gonex packing cubes have close to 1,500 five-star ratings at Amazon, with reviewers praising their high quality and durability. They're made with waterproof, lightweight nylon to alleviate some of your common travel conundrums: if liquid leaks into your bag, you don't have to worry about it getting on your clothes, and the cubes won't make your suitcase heavier. Each pouch also has a durable handle to make it easier to pull in and out of your suitcase. I was also excited to discover that my clothes didn't wrinkle any more than usual inside the packing cubes, since they are packed so tightly together. I recently put the packing cubes to the test once again—here's what my suitcase looked like before using them: Travel + Leisure / Rebecca Shinners But, once I packed everything into the Gonex packing cubes, I was left with more empty space. This ended up being the perfect spot to tuck my shoes so I wouldn't have to worry about them getting dirt on my clothes. And just imagine how much more I was able to fit into my suitcase once I convinced my puppy to move. Travel + Leisure / Rebecca Shinners I was so impressed with the packing cubes that I raved about them to my family and friends, and my brother already ordered them in blue for his next trip. Amazon reviewers have called them everything from their 'favorite packing necessity' to 'rockstars," and many of their fans are flight attendants. One wrote, "They are great space savers and make it possible for me to pack for a four-day trip to frigid destinations without having to bring an extra bag." Chiming in, a second flight attendant shared, "I routinely pack for a week in the medium bag only. If I used all four bags, I could pack enough to last months." Another reviewer said the cubes were 'worth every penny' after using them to pack everything they needed for two weeks in Europe in a carry-on bag, and a traveler added, 'The compression feature allowed me to overpack and still get everything neatly tucked into my suitcase." They made sure to note that the zippers still worked smoothly, no matter how much they overstuffed the pouches. It's safe to say that I'm no longer a packing cube skeptic. After my London trip, I'm now more confident than ever in my ability to pack just a carry-on for my upcoming trips. I even just booked an economy ticket to Paris to avoid checked bag fees. Whether you're looking to skip checking a bag like me or just want to fit more into your suitcase, you won't regret ordering the Gonex Compression Packing Cubes for your next trip. Read on for more carry-on packing essentials from Amazon. At the time of publishing, the price started at $20. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Should you help a turtle cross the road in Kansas?
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Travelers hitting the road this summer in Kansas may come across a turtle or two trying to cross the street. But do they need any help from people? Turtles are on the move in Kansas as they look for mates or places to lay eggs. Drivers may occasionally spot one making slow progress across the road this summer and feel the need to lend a helping hand. Professor Benjamin Reed with Washburn University is a local expert on turtles and their activities in the Sunflower State. He said people can pitch in if they want to speed up a turtle's pace across the street to help them reach the intended destination safely. Reed told 27 News about some of the do's and don'ts associated with helping turtles. One point he wants to make clear is that while it helps a turtle to move them off a busy road, it is also important to put the turtle in roughly the same direction it was heading in previously. 'It is a good idea to put it in the direction it was headed,' Reed said. 'It does seem true that they're stubborn, so if you put them in the wrong direction, they'll turn around and try again.' Kansas game wardens share photo of very rare albino fawn People will also need to make sure they don't cause any harm to the turtle when they touch it. Reed said that, if possible, you should wash your hands before touching a wild turtle or wear gloves. This will prevent potentially harmful bacteria, sunscreen or insect spray from passing on to the animal. People should also wash their hands after touching a wild turtle to reduce the risk of contracting an illness such as salmonella. 'We always think about turtles giving us disease, but we should also keep in mind what we pass onto the turtles,' Reed said. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reports that 14 different species of turtle call Kansas home, any of which may be encountered by drivers on the road as they search for places to lay eggs or to find mates. From smaller varieties like the northern map turtle to the larger alligator snapping turtle, people may come across one or more struggling to cross a road during the year. 'Most turtles will mate throughout the year so nesting season occurs simultaneously with breeding season,' Reed said. Why are so many strange catfish coming out of this Kansas lake? Reed recommends picking up smaller turtles and moving them across the road but said that people should try to act as a crossing guard for the larger snapping turtles as they are heavier. He also said people need to make sure it is safe to stop and get out of their vehicles before trying to help a nearby turtle. 'If it's safe for the person, I would always recommend helping it across the road,' Reed said. 'I think helping a turtle cross the road is a perfectly acceptable/good thing to do.' Reed said people shouldn't take a wild turtle home as a pet. Reed also reminds people to avoid placing turtles directly in water as some species, like ornate box turtles and three-toed box turtles, aren't aquatic while some may not have wanted to enter the water in the first place. He said people should be direct when helping a turtle cross and make sure they reach the other side but not take them any farther. 'Some people may see it crossing the road and try to put it in a nearby body of water,' Reed said. 'The turtles know what they're doing, they're not stupid creatures. They're on land for a reason.' Reed also gave out some other advice for good turtle care such as planting native plants in your backyard they might feed on and being careful when mowing. He said people should avoid taking wild turtles home as pets as well. Green invasive beetles devour plants across Kansas For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Gizmodo
3 hours ago
- Gizmodo
How to Watch the 2025 Tour de France Live on a Free Channel
Finding a free channel that streams the 2025 Tour de France can feel impossible. All you come across are premium channels and platforms charging a fortune. Fortunately, there's a simple way to watch the Tour de France online for free. We'll show you a trick that lets you access it from anywhere. We'll also cover a few premium options and explain why they're not ideal. Let's dive in—the cycling spectacle starts soon. Time to get ready. July 5th is a significant day for cycling lovers. Luckily, the excitement doesn't dwindle until the race is over on July 27th. You don't have to spend a fortune to witness fierce cycling rivalries. The free channel ITVX broadcasts the Tour de France live online. ITVX is a UK on-demand streaming service that allows you to access all its subchannels and watch them live through your browser. According to ITVX, ITV4 will live-stream the Tour de France for free. Since ITVX is from the UK, you'll enjoy English commentary and high-resolution footage. If you're from the United Kingdom, go to ITV, create a free account, and tune on to ITV4 to initiate the stream. Watch Tour de France With NordVPN Users abroad can watch ITVX only with the trick we'll explain. ITVX operates exclusively in the UK, rendering visitors overseas 'ineligible'. However, the VPN trick appears to work fine for non-Brits. Cycling fans online have noticed that VPNs unblock free channels for watching the Tour de France. While a few more usually broadcast it, this time, the only free, English-speaking option is ITVX (ITV4). NordVPN, as the most popular VPN, is often mentioned. It includes over 440 UK VPN servers and unlimited bandwidth for long-lasting live streams. Moreover, NordVPN is famous for its 10 Gbps servers and top speeds, preventing buffering that regularly ruins the party. The trick is subscribing to NordVPN and installing its app on the device. From here, users need to connect to a server in the UK, which will replace their original IP address with the one from this country. When ITVX detects a UK IP address, it 'thinks' the visitor is genuinely there. As a result, ITVX works, and the user can watch the Tour de France live for free. NordVPN is a premium VPN, but you can be refunded after watching the Tour de France live on a free channel. A 30-day money-back guarantee exists so that you can be reimbursed and not lose a single penny. Check out our guide to NordVPN's free trial if you'd like to know how to get started. Paid channels typically don't offer much value. You get what you pay for, access to your favourite sports live streams. In 2025, these channels have become a luxury with their over-the-top subscription prices. Still, if you don't want to use a VPN for any reason, it's good to know you can enjoy the event using premium, tried-and-tested channels and services. Tip: If you're currently abroad and already paying for a channel that broadcasts the Tour de France, don't worry. Subscribing to a VPN like NordVPN will let you access live coverage from outside your country. All you need to do is connect to a VPN server in your home country. Change your IP address with NordVPN The United States has the most extensive roster of these services: Unless you choose Peacock TV, streaming the Tour de France for free online is impossible. It's not like Peacock is free, but it's far less expensive than the rest. The most costly is FuboTV, closely followed by YouTube TV. Neither offers an extended free trial period, so you'll have to pay the price to watch the entire race. Furthermore, don't expect a money-back guarantee that would get you reimbursed after the fact. Remember that all four platforms are region-locked to the USA. Thus, if you're 'accidentally' outside the USA, you'll need a VPN to regain access, which is very inconvenient. What about Canadians? Our Canadian friends can use FloBikes, which offers extensive coverage of major cycling events. It's often used to watch the Giro d'Italia live. However, it's pretty costly at CAD$29.99 monthly or $CAD150 annually. FloBikes limits access only to Canadians, so those abroad, despite their Canadian roots, still won't be able to use it. Worse yet, if you're a foreigner, you'll need a Canadian credit card to subscribe, so you're also ineligible. We'll address New Zealand as another English-speaking region. Fans from this country can enjoy the race on Sky Sport. Sky Sport is known for slightly higher prices, so the monthly price, with a recent price increase, is about $54.99 if you want to stream sports. More absurdly, there's a one-day pass, which costs $29.99. If you want to save the most, the annual plan at $549.99 seems sensible, but alas, a significant upfront investment. Knowing this, it's up to you to decide. Will you limit yourself to a single streaming service or use a VPN, pay less, and watch the Tour de France on a free channel? Knowing how popular this cycling race is, it's no wonder it's broadcast on many worldwide channels. As explained, just a few provide English, Full HD or Ultra HD coverages of the Tour de France. If you're wandering our beautiful earth and are often on the go, here are a few free channels from different countries that you can tune in to watch the event: The only English-speaking option is SBS, which you can watch in Australia. People outside Australia can access SBS with a VPN. Other channels chiefly broadcast in their respective languages. Watching the Tour de France live for free is easy with all these options. However, a free channel such as ITVX or SBS is the most optimal way. If you're in the UK or Australia, you're all set and don't need a VPN. Conversely, fans from overseas can rely on NordVPN to fix the issue. A premium VPN by default, it's fantastic for high-octane cycling live-streams with no bandwidth or speed restrictions. It's risk-free, and you can claim a refund in 30 days to nullify your initial payment. Try NordVPN Risk-Free Today
