The Salty Wanderer

For the first time ever, scientists have captured the birth of a humpback whale on film! This remarkable moment unfolded off the coast of Hawaii in 2021, when researchers — working alongside National Geographic — documented the entire event, from the first signs of labor to the newborn calf’s first swim. Because humpbacks typically give birth far from shore and out of sight, witnessing such an intimate moment in the wild is incredibly rare. The footage offers an unprecedented look into whale reproduction, maternal instincts, and the fragile first moments of a calf’s life — a powerful glimpse into one of nature’s most elusive and awe-inspiring events. (Via: @natgeo) #history #wildlife #reels #nature #didyouknow

Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić set a Guinness World Record for the longest voluntary underwater breath-hold, achieving 29 minutes and 3 seconds on June 14, 2025, at the Bristol Hotel in Opatija, Croatia, surpassing the previous record by nearly 5 minutes.

He prepared by breathing pure oxygen for 10 minutes, using denitrogenation to increase his blood oxygen levels fivefold, enhancing endurance by replacing nitrogen with oxygen in his lungs, boosting usable oxygen from 450ml to nearly 3 liters.

The attempt, monitored by five judges and watched by 100 spectators, took place in a 3-meter-deep pool as part of the “Fit for the Ocean” campaign to raise awareness for ocean conservation.

Maričić, a seasoned freediver with a prior 2021 Guinness Record for a 107-meter underwater walk, emphasized the dangers of oxygen and CO2 toxicity, warning that such feats require professional training to avoid lethal risks. His achievement, doubling the breath-hold capacity of bottlenose dolphins, highlights extreme human physiological limits and potential applications in medical and military fields.

Haliotidae, also called abalone, is a family of edible marine gastropods of the ancient subclass Vetigastropoda.

Typically compressed in shape, abalone cling firmly to their substrate. Adorned by a series of holes in the shell used for respiration and reproduction, they are among the most easily recognisable of all gastropods. Their shell interior is composed of nacre (or mother-of-pearl) and can be highly iridescent.

In South Africa, X-Ray images have never been developed of shark fins & succulent plants. A team from TRAFFIC and WILDTRUST headed to Cape Town International Airport to develop accurate X-Ray images of shark fin products. Their goal is to equip X-ray technicians with the knowledge and tools needed to accurately identify a wide range of plant and shark fin products that are being trafficked illegally. Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health of ocean ecosystems, making it crucial to reduce, and ideally eliminate, the illegal trade in all shark products. We need to ensure the fisheries are sustainable, that trade is sustainable, and that the ecosystems that these sharks come from remain healthy. For more information and to find out how you can help Sharks & Rays, visit: https://www.traffic.org & www.sharksunderattackcampaign.co.za This project was made possible in partnership with Shark Conservation Fund, TRAFFIC and WILDTRUST TRAFFIC Sharklife Shark Conservation Fund Justice 4 Jaws IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group

Spikey boy 🌵

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught."

Baba Dioum