Good news for penguins: How fishing restriction could increase colony's fishing grounds
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4 hours ago
- Yahoo
One of the world's rarest sharks captured on camera in UK 'dream sighting'
One of the world's rarest shark species has been captured on an underwater camera as it swam through a Welsh bay. The angel shark was caught by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales' (WTSWW) underwater cameras in Cardigan Bay. Angel sharks are critically endangered, having suffered "significant decline" as a result of fishing and habitat degradation. The footage came as part of National Marine Week, which runs from July 26 to August 10. The angel shark was captured on WTSWW's Baited Underwater Remote Video Systems (BRUVS) which had been deployed by a research team investigating dolphin diets and marine diversity in Cardigan Bay. Dr Sarah Perry, marine conservation and research manager at WTSWW, said: 'We were thrilled to record an angel shark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter. 'Before this project started, angel sharks hadn't been captured on film in Cardigan Bay since 2021. 'This sighting comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK Government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. 'Our Dolphin Diet Detectives project, funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund, uses underwater cameras to reveal the incredible diversity of life on the seabed. The Largest National Parks in the UK 'These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling.' The cameras were deployed in a range of habitats and left to record for just one hour at each location. They have captured a huge range of wildlife both inside and outside of marine protected areas, including spider crabs, wrasse, and most recently, the angel shark. The WTSWW say that even marine protected areas, of which there are 139 in Wales, are not yet fully protected from destructive fishing activities. How have people reacted online? Quick to comment on the news on social media, Facebook users shared their delight on Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre's post. One user wrote: "So wonderful to see." While another said: "What awesome footage!" A third commented: "A dream sighting!!!!!" Recommended Reading: Where to find great white sharks - are there any in the UK? Great white sharks could be found in UK waters soon according to marine experts 400-year-old carnivorous sharks found lurking in the depths of British waters What is an angel shark? Angel sharks are flat-bodied sharks which can grow up to 2.4m in length and are normally found submerged in sandy habitats in coastal waters. They are well camouflaged to ambush flatfishes, crustaceans and molluscs. Living on the seabed makes the sharks vulnerable to being caught in trawl nets, which along with their slow reproduction rate, puts them at a high risk of extinction.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Researchers ecstatic after catching rare glimpse of critically endangered creature in nature refuge: 'It's very gratifying'
Researchers ecstatic after catching rare glimpse of critically endangered creature in nature refuge: 'It's very gratifying' A tussle between two wild animals caught on a trail camera revealed happy news about an elusive species–and ended happily for both critters. In hours of footage captured at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in Australia, a northern hairy‑nosed wombat tried to take on a short‑beaked echidna, revealing exciting conservation updates for researchers about conservation efforts for the endangered wombat species, according to a report from The researchers noted that the young wombat looked healthy, with a smooth coat and sturdy build, suggesting plenty of foraging opportunities and low-stress conditions. "It's very gratifying to know that one of the world's most critically endangered animals is doing well and breeding within the safety of the fenced area," Andy Howe of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy told the outlet. Only 400 northern hairy‑nosed wombats live in the wild currently. In 2009, a group of 15 wombats was moved to the park as part of conservation efforts. According to the researchers, the junior wombat's appearance on camera confirmed that a second generation is doing well without hand-feeding from humans. Wombats are important to the health of the soil in the ecosystem thanks to their burrowing, which brings important nutrients to the surface and helps mix organic matter and seedlings, according to WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service). Their burrows also provide shelter for other species, making them crucial to more species during increasingly intense heatwaves in the Outback. In their report, the researchers noted the importance of trail cameras in helping monitor wombat health by letting "ecologists confirm pouch emergence dates, monitor health, and detect any intruding wild dogs before disaster strikes," explained. Scientists around the world have been able to track more and more species with trail cameras, making hopeful discoveries like the return of the pangolin in India, wolves in North America, and rare otter behavior in Israel. As for the fight between the wombat and the echidna, for the spiny-backed marsupial, it was hardly a fight at all, as the wombat was all bluff and the echidna just kept walking by. "It's a nervous wombat and a happy echidna," biologist Tim Flannery of the Australian Museum told the outlet. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Exciting encounter' with endangered shark in bay
One of the world's rarest sharks has been caught on camera in Cardigan Bay for the first time in four years. Sarah Perry, a marine conservation and research manager with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said she was "thrilled" by the "rare and exciting encounter" with the angel shark which lives and hunts on the seabed. Critically endangered, the species was filmed on an underwater camera being used to study a group of bottlenose dolphins that make their home off the Welsh coast. The angel shark was common across the east Atlantic and Mediterranean seas but has declined because of a number of threats, including habitat disturbance and accidental fishing catch. Watch as people try to help 1.5m shark on shoreline Dolphin 'mysteries' to be solved by collecting poo Bottlenose dolphins spotted killing dolphin juvenile A juvenile angel shark was caught on camera in September 2021 in Cardigan Bay. Ms Perry said the latest sighting "comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas". "These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling," she said. Angel sharks, known as a "flat shark", spends much of the time camouflaged in the sediments on the seabed, where they lie in wait for fish. In 2019, experts said sightings suggested Wales could be a key habitat for the angel shark which has had a stronghold around the Canary Islands. Related stories Rare sharks found living off Wales Do rare angel sharks live all year in Wales' seas? Related internet links Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
