Category: Environment

If you go back a couple hundred of years, most people probably liked the idea of having no wolves prowling around outside their house. Fast forward to now, and that has (partially) changed. On one hand, when you get rid of all the predators, the prey population can get out of hand. This can cause problems with disease and unbalanced eco-systems.

On the other had, wolves are awesome! So it would be a real shame if they went extinct. So, the general balance people try to strike is having some wolves in parks and wild-life reserves. This seems like a reasonable compromise. We get wolves, and the wolves don’t get us… hopefully.

This brings us to the Netherlands. They have been growing the wolf population in their wildlife parks. The only problem – some wolves are getting a little too used to humans walking around.

In a notable development in wildlife management in the Netherlands, the Central Netherlands District Court has allowed the province of Gelderland to use paintball guns to deter wolves in De Hoge Veluwe National Park. This decision comes after a period of research and deliberation on the best methods to manage interactions between wolves and humans in the park.

The court’s ruling was influenced by concerns about public safety, particularly in light of reports of a female wolf in the park that has been approaching hikers and cyclists at a close distance. This behavior was considered abnormal and a serious threat to public safety. The court concluded that there was no other satisfactory solution than using paintball guns to discourage the wolf from such interactions, as long as the tool is used correctly and not aimed at sensitive areas like the eyes of the animals.

This decision represents a balancing act between protecting public safety and respecting the status of wolves as a protected species. It follows a period where the province of Gelderland’s initial plan was deemed carelessly prepared and insufficiently motivated, lacking conclusive evidence of the wolf exhibiting problem behavior and exploration of alternatives to the paintball gun.

We will certainly see more of these types of problems emerge as conservation efforts of the more dangerous species continue. But, luckily there usually seems to be a pretty good way of dealing with it without causing much harm. (Funny enough, I have been shot with a paintball gun before, so I guess I am speaking from experience)

The Ocean Photographer of the Year 2023 competition, organized by Oceanographic Magazine, showcased a stunning array of underwater photography, highlighting the beauty and diversity of ocean life.

Jialing Cai, a marine biologist and amateur photographer, claimed the top honor as the Ocean Photographer of the Year with her mesmerizing image of a paper nautilus adrift on a piece of debris in the Philippines. This image, captured during a blackwater dive following a volcanic eruption, has a serene and almost fairytale-like quality amidst the natural disaster’s aftermath.

The competition also had several other categories, such as the Wildlife and Ocean Portfolio award.

These winning images, along with others, will be featured in a five-month-long exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum, offering a unique opportunity to view these incredible works in person.

Luckily for us, we can view them by going to their online gallery. You can see each category winner, as well as the 2nd and 3rd place contestants. They are all absolutely amazing, as you can probably tell from the image up top

In a remarkable discovery off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, scientists have identified at least four new octopus species. These discoveries were made during two expeditions in 2023 aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel, the Falkor (too). The expeditions focused on exploring hydrothermal springs in a roughly 260-square-kilometer area, revealing a rich and diverse ecosystem.

One of the newly identified species, named the Dorado Octopus, was discovered in the vicinity of a rock formation unofficially known as El Dorado Hill. This species was observed brooding its eggs in the warmer waters near the hydrothermal springs. The Dorado Octopus is part of the Muusoctopus genus, known for species that may have evolved to gather and brood their eggs in warmer waters.

In addition to the discovery of the octopus species, the expeditions also identified a deep-sea skate nursery, adding to the unique biodiversity of the region. The findings underscore the rich and diverse marine life that thrives in deep-sea environments, particularly around hydrothermal vents.

The research holds significant implications for the understanding and preservation of deep-sea ecosystems. More than 160 deep-sea animal specimens were collected during the December expedition and will be stored at the Museum of Zoology at the University of Costa Rica. This marks one of the first instances where biological specimens from a deep-sea expedition are stored in the country from which they were acquired, facilitating local research and potentially informing deep-sea management strategies.

The discovery of these new species highlights the vast, unexplored diversity of life in our oceans and the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts in these complex ecosystems. This research not only expands our knowledge of marine biodiversity but also stresses the importance of international collaborations in deep-sea exploration and conservation.

Heimdall Power, a Norwegian company, is introducing its innovative technology to improve the efficiency of power lines in the United States. The company’s flagship product, the Neuron, a small spherical ‘magic balls’ sensor resembling a soccer ball, is designed to monitor voltage, temperature, and current angles on high-voltage power lines in real-time.

Traditional power lines lack real-time information about electricity transmission, leading to inefficiencies. With approximately 160,000 miles of power lines in the US, the potential for improvement is significant. Installed quickly by drones, the Neuron provides crucial data to grid managers.

For instance, it can identify areas of over-transmission, allowing adjustments to save costs or reallocate power to areas with higher demand. Heimdall Power claims that improved control over power lines has already saved customers significant amounts in Norwegian Kroner, equivalent to almost $10 million. The Neuron is set to make its debut in the US through agreements with Great River Energy in Minnesota and an undisclosed publicly-traded utility in Michigan.

Emerging drone enthusiast Daniel Lukic captured a spectacular migration of cownose rays near Forster Beach in Australia. Being in the right place at the right time, Lukic recorded an impressive aerial video showcasing hundreds of rays, resembling a vibrant display of scattered confetti on the water.

Lukic, describing the scene, estimated the ray count to be approximately 400 or 500, resulting in a visually captivating spectacle. Expressing his enthusiasm, he remarked, “I get pretty excited when I see this sort of stuff because it’s a single moment in time where you just had to be there.”

Marine biologists interviewed by ABC News AU speculated that the substantial gathering of rays, referred to as a ‘fever,’ might function as a protective measure. Despite this, the conservation status of cownose rays remains uncertain, marked as “data deficient” by the IUCN.

Normally observed in fevers of around 100 individuals, Lukic’s recording of such a sizable group prompts questions about the event’s rarity or the limited scientific knowledge about their habits. Biologists recognized that Lukic’s footage has the potential to significantly contribute to advancing the understanding of these marine creatures.

Beyond the ray migration, Lukic has also documented other intriguing marine scenes, including dolphin pods swimming alongside sharks, featured on his channel.

Check out this footage he got! It is enchanting.