Please note: This post was published over a year ago, so please be aware that its content may not be quite so accurate anymore. Also, the format of the site has changed since it was published, so please excuse any formatting issues.Here’s a subject near and dear to my heart: the coelacanth is in danger of extinction.
In case you don’t know what a coelacanth is, it’s an ugly, oil-filled fish that is so old, it’s often referred to as a “prehistoric fish,” (seriously, the species has been around for like 400 million years). It was long thought to be extinct, but a fisherman caught one off the coast of Africa in 1938. Since then, many of the fish have been found and studied, giving scientists a rare glimpse into the past.
Now, deep-trawlers off the coast of Tanzania threaten to kill the coelacanth once and for all. This article has all the details, but the basics of the story are that (once again), the local fishing trade is accidentally killing fish that it shouldn’t be.
Not all hope is lost. Groups dedicated to helping the coelacanth are educating local fishers about the fish, its rarity, and its importance. Someone has even developed a fast and safe method of returning the fish to its normal depth (between 100 and 300 meters). The Deep Release Kits, as they’re called, are small, highly portable, and extremely easy to use. Along with the kits, T-shirts were made and the instructions for using the Deep Release Kits were printed on the back.
The story of the coelacanth is truly amazing (you can read it here) and it would be a shame to see humans destroy what was described as, “the most important zoological find of the century.”
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By the way, here’s how you pronounce coelacanth.
Ahh the coelacanth. If it weren’t for Volkswagon I wouldn’t have a clue. Just one more example of how T.V. and commercials can entertain thorugh education.
Or is that educate through entertainment?
Fish?!!! I got your fish right here!!
Throw in a line at your Podsafe music network &
Pull up a “Blame Amy”…never needs food, smells like roses & tasts like chocolate!!
Tried to e-mail you in response to your comment at my place…but I guess you either keep it private, or make it hard to find! Anyway, FYI, this is a johnny jump up in the States:
http://tinyurl.com/8hmoc
(And sorry, I don’t know how to make that pretty and clickable!)
If a johnny jump up was an alcoholic drink, as it is in Ireland, that might explain the mess she was dancing in!
Wow, that makes the image in my mind a lot funnier!