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Marine Wildlife

The health of the ocean and marine life are so often taken for granted and due to our increasing numbers and wasteful practices, the ocean appears to be as vulnerable to harm by human activities as any other environmental realm—and maybe even more so based on the severity and scale of the threats we encounter on a daily basis.
The Cape Whale Coast in South Africa is a Biodiversity HopeSpot worthy of protection.

Cape Whale Coast Hope Spot (20)
Sharks (12)

Penguins (9)
Whales (29)

Sea Birds (4)

Sea Turtles (2)

10 Facts you did not know about Bottlenose Dolphins

The most popular dolphin is the Bottlenose Dolphin as it is the one we have seen in tv series, movies, and aquatic shows. Yet, we dont know these friendly creatures.

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What do we know about Loggerhead turtles?

To see these magnificent creatures make their way up the beach, dig a hole with their flippers, lay their eggs, carefully cover up their nest...

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Is the red tide in Hermanus harmful to swimmers?

The red tide currently visible in Walker Bay are harmful to mussels and filter organisms such as red bait and oysters but it does not pose any danger to people swimming in the ocean. It’s a non-toxic species, but if the concentration becomes too high, it could cause fish mortalities through bloom decay and anoxia.

Members of the public are asked to call the department’s Red Tide Information answering service on (021) 434 4457 to get updates on the tide’s status.

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Author of 'Jaws,' regretted making the great white shark into a villain

Peter Benchley, whose 1974 novel "Jaws" turned shark attacks into a national obsession and who later used what he called his "fish story" to help promote oceanic conservation.Mr. Benchley, who even found himself enduring the wrath of Jacques Cousteau, said repeatedly in later years that he regretted making the great white shark into a villain.

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Virga is rain that does not reach the ground

Virga is rain that evaporates before it reaches the ground. It appears in streaks or shafts extending from the bottoms of clouds. You often see virga over a desert, where low humidity and high temperatures can cause rain to evaporate high in the sky.

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Abalone - the mollusk we will soon only see on a postcard

Abalone is shellfish of the univalve family, meaning they have only one shell, unlike bivalves such as clams that consists of 2 shells. Most abalone lives in shallow waters and grows very slowly.

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Scientists Finally Understand Shark Skin, Thanks to 3D Printers

If you described a shark as a toothy torpedo covered in sandpaper, you wouldn't be too far off the mark. It's that rough sandpapery skin that gives sharks their highly efficient swimming abilities, and scientists finally understand why.

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22 Epic Photos - Above & below on the border of two worlds.

Above and Below… you’ll never know what you might encounter just below the surface.

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Do the whales move away from Hermanus because of Wi Fi?

I have a theory. Our whales do not return to Walkerbay because of the distress caused by Wi-Fi signals to the whales and new-born babies.

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African Penguins Fun Facts and a video taken at Stoney Point

Watch a small video clip of the Africa Penguins at Stoney Point.

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Blue Whales

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest baleen whale and the largest animal that ever lived on Earth

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Reminiscences of Dr Allan Heydorn of diving with Dr Sylvia Earle

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Albatross success story

Using an albatross as a central motif for his epic poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,

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Most Baby Macaroni Penguins Get Eaten

Whoever named the macaroni penguin was not thinking of dinner, but the name is unfortunately apt. A shocking number of these birds get gobbled up by other large seabirds while they’re young, a new study found.

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