Published by the World Wildlife Fund The climate crisis is increasingly distressing. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to ensure our future is as prosperous as possible. These actions fall into one of two broad categories: climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation. These terms go hand-in-hand while navigating through the climate crisis, but […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy We’ve all been there. Maybe you’re running late, or have a million things to do, or forgot something important at home today. Less than fantastic days happen to all of us, but there’s always a way to brighten up your smile and put some pep in your step. Well, friends, today that […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy You may not think about eels very much. And that’s OK, we can’t blame you—they’re not exactly the more charismatic critters in the ocean. It’s hard to compete with a fluffy otter or majestic whale when you are literally the villain in a Disney movie—I’m looking at you Flotsam and Jetsam. But […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund The jaguar (Panthera onca) holds many titles; The main predator in the Amazon, it’s also the largest big cat species in the Americas and the third largest feline in the world, after tigers and lions. This iconic species plays a vital role in its habitat by controlling other species’ populations […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Summer can be a time of change, especially as people venture out on vacation or get out of school. It’s a time of change for the Arctic, too, especially when it comes to sea ice. As summer progresses, you might hear some talk about the Arctic sea ice minimum. Before the news […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The world is an unbelievably colorful place, and with our ocean covering over 70% of Earth’s surface, it probably comes as no surprise that many of the magnificent creatures who call the seas home are vibrant beyond belief. From spectacular sea sheep to brilliant bobtail squid and beyond, these species are ones […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The deep sea has captured our imagination for centuries—and for good reason. Once we venture past the zone where light penetrates the ocean, the dark depths of the sea are filled with strange and captivating critters (some of which have even inspired horror movie monsters). We know remarkably little about the deep ocean—in […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Yes, sea pigs are a thing. And they are quite the freakishly adorable deep-sea oddity. Sea pigs are not actually pigs, but sea cucumbers. While physiologically nothing like pigs, their translucent, pink-tinged bodies, accompanied by several pairs of elongated tube feet (some located on their heads), do show some resemblance to their […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Gather ‘round, ocean lovers…we found it. We found what we’re pretty positive could be the cutest cephalopod in the entire ocean, and its name is the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes). From their favorite foods to their BFF status with a special little set of bacteria, check out these six things to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy How do you live forever? We humans have been trying to answer this question since the dawn of time. But, it turns out you don’t need a magic elixir or sorcerer’s stone to live in perpetuity. No, one humble ocean creature—the jellyfish—has known the secret all along. A very specific jellyfish to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy As a kid, I had such an active imagination that as soon as my feet left the diving board at my neighborhood pool I would focus on one thing and one thing only: speed-paddling to the ladder for fear that something was lurking beneath. Looking back, I mostly chalk that up to […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy On a recent trip to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, I was faced with a display of a giant squid that was, well, GIANT. As a school field trip chaperone, I was quickly peppered with all sorts of questions about the giant squid from the knowledge-seeking students. What I learned and […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund In a major boost for communities and wildlife in the Luangwa river valley, the Zambian government halted plans to construct a mega hydropower dam across the river, safeguarding the diverse benefits it provides to people and nature. Almost 200,000 WWF supporters signed a petition calling for the legal protection of […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund Ghost nets aren’t supernatural, but they are legitimately scary. A ghost net is a fishing net that’s been lost or abandoned in the ocean. They are one particularly egregious part of the global ghost fishing problem, which includes fishing gear abandoned in the water. Any net or line left in […]
Published by the World Wildlife Fund Ghost nets aren’t supernatural, but they are legitimately scary. A ghost net is a fishing net that’s been lost or abandoned in the ocean. They are one particularly egregious part of the global ghost fishing problem, which includes fishing gear abandoned in the water. Any net or line left in […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy While land-dwelling animals like chimpanzees and elephants typically get all the recognition for animal intelligence, the ocean harbors some Einsteins of its own. From the spineless octopus to the formidable great white shark, creatures from every corner of the ocean have shown incredible abilities to problem-solve, use tools and trick their predators […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Cephalopods are some of the most impressive invertebrates in the sea. Members of class Cephalopoda, which includes squid, cuttlefish, octopuses and nautiluses, have captivated humans for centuries—and for good reason! The group includes the massive colossal squid, the inventive mimic octopus, the historic nautilus, the venomous blue ringed octopus and more. But […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy The Gulf of Mexico is known for its productive fisheries, oil and gas economy and resilient communities. It is also a biologically rich marine ecosystem teeming with life that captures your heart and imagination. Whale sharks meander through its waters, bottlenose dolphins jump through its currents and sea turtles nest on its […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy If you’re reading this, odds are you already know about the dire threat facing our ocean in the form of plastic pollution. Nearly every day brings a new media report about a marine mammal with a stomach filled with plastic trash. Thankfully, we have some good news to report in the fight […]
Published by Ocean Conservancy Today’s guest blog comes from Lauren Divine, Director of the Ecosystem Conservation Office at the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island. She also represents the Tribal Government of St. Paul Island through the Aleut International Association on the Arctic Council Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Marine Litter Expert Group. Historically, […]