Author Archives: oceanlifeeducation

Going International

27654597_329491477543568_5883821825959801009_nLanguage proved no barrier for a group of International students meeting our animal ambassadors for the first time.

The children from China and Japan were on a study aboard program hosted by John Paul International College in Brisbane.

While a translator was on hand for some of the more complex explanations, the students needed no help bonding with the sea stars, sea cucumbers and spiny sea urchins.

Having the unique opportunity to gently touch animals they have never encountered before enhanced the learning experience for the students, who will spend up to 10 weeks studying in Australia.

The Shark jaws were a big hit with the kids who were fascinated to find out these predatory fish are far more complex than the killing machines they are unfairly portrayed as in the news.

But hands down the favourite of the visits was Rainbow the freshwater turtle who handled all the excited shrieks and adulation in her usual calm manner… and just maybe replacing the koala as the favourite Aussie animal!

 

New Year Resolutions

plastic_ocean1_634x423Ok let’s be honest – a few weeks into January and most of our New Year resolutions have already fallen by the wayside – destroyed by all the excesses that make summer so much fun!  And while it’s fantastic to want a fitter, more fabulous you, the time has come to devote our energies to fixing the environment instead.

The health of the ocean is declining and even if you don’t live within coo-ee of the coastline, chances are this will still impact on you at some stage.  Its estimated more than one third of the world’s population depends on seafood for 20% of their animal protein.

And while issues like overfishing and global warming need to be tackled on a large scale, there are many simple steps we can take to improve the quality of our waterways and the lives of their inhabitants – not just for us but for generations to come.

Here are 5 achievable resolutions for 2018…

1.   The last straw! They may be convenient – but at what cost?!  Not only do straws clog up our landfill, but they’re amongst the top ten items found on beach clean ups.  They’re not recyclable and they take hundreds of years to break down – a big price to pay for a single use item with a lifespan of around 20 minutes on average!  Reusable glass, stainless steel and bamboo varieties work just as well in your smoothies and don’t cost the earth!  http://www.biome.com.au

 2.   BYO Cup!  Disposable coffee cups are another item that just won’t go away – no matter how much we try to ignore them.  It’s estimated our caffeine addiction is adding 60,000 kg’s of coffee cups to land fill and the environment every year.  And while no-one is suggesting cutting back on your favourite brew, taking your own cup can make a world of difference.  And if one of the many glass or ceramic varieties aren’t practical, there are collapsible coffee cups that are easy to cart around.  https://cupy.com.au/

 3.   It’s in the bag!  The problem of single use plastic bags is well documented to the point that several states including Queensland are now planning to ban their use.  And while it does take a little more effort to BYO, sea turtles of the world will thank you!  Unfortunately, your average green turtle cannot distinguish between floating flimsy plastic and their favourite food – sea jellies.  And with the added bonus of being less likely to break than the plastic imposters, reusable bags are a great way to show you care!

 4.   Take 3 for the Sea!  It’s simple, doesn’t take much effort and could help save the sea from turning into plastic soup!  Every time you’re near a waterway just pick up three bits of rubbish and dispose of them.  The beauty of this environmental movement is any age, any fitness level can help create a cleaner coastline and prevent further waste from ending up in the sea.  Imagine what could be achieved if everyone of us did this simple task every day!   http://www.take3.org/

 5.   Learn more about our impact!  Ignorance is not bliss – the more we know, the better equipped we are to prevent environmental problems getting any worse.  Read up, keep across local conservation issues and help educate children about being responsible global citizens right from the start.  Ocean Life Education has made it our mission to care for the sea and all who live within it – help us to spread the world through one of our fun filled programs.  https://www.oceanlifeeducation.com.au/programs

 

 

 

It’s Christmas Everyday Underwater

xmas-tree-worm-8It appears that nature outdoes us when it comes to festive displays.  Coral reefs showcase their decorations all year round in a vibrant celebration of Christmas…or more particularly, the Christmas Tree Worm.

These colourful creatures (Spirobranchus Giganteus to the scientifically minded!) are found in tropical waters all around the world.  They catch their microscopic prey in spiky bristles, which are coated in sticky mucus for added mealtime security.

But what you see isn’t all you get with these segmented worms – only the crown is visible – 2/3 of their body lies hidden within the coral.

And while it’s obvious camouflage is not one of their skills, they have the ability to retreat very quickly into their hole if danger lurks close by.

At Ocean Life Education we love everything “Weird and Wonderful” – especially when it comes to marine creatures.   The crazier looking, the more colourful the display – we’re hooked.

In fact we enjoy it so much we dedicated an entire program to all things that little bit different underwater.

Want to know how a mudskipper breathes out of water?  Why a stone fish has a face only a mother could love?  How a nudibranch gets its technicolour coat? Why a northern stargazer always looks up?

We have the answers and we love sharing our passion for all things quirky in the sea. And we’re constantly learning as well.  Only 1/3 of the estimated one million creatures living in our oceans have been identified – so just like our colourful Christmas Tree Worm –  much remains hidden, waiting to be discovered.

Party Animals

b'day party nixon2

What’s not to love about a party – the food, the fun… and throw in a friendly turtle, a baby shark, some striking sea stars, and you’ve got the makings of a pretty memorable day for any young nature lovers!

Ocean Life Education loves a good celebration – especially when we get to share our passion for all things sea related with a roomful of eager attendees.  So when the call came to be part of a young shark lover’s birthday, we didn’t need to be asked twice!

Now its fair to say that sharks are not a regular sight at Kawana Aquatic Centre on the Sunshine Coast – and we hasten to add ours was not let loose in the pool but Bob was there none-the-less along with some colourful companions.

The constant rain was forgotten as birthday boy Nixon and his friends became fascinated by our menagerie of marine animals – gentle touching them to help create connection and understanding which will hopefully lead to a lifelong desire to protect them and help conserve their environment.

Our Ocean Life animal ambassadors are guests of honour at all sorts of parties – from Kindy break-ups, to Xmas celebrations and any community events celebrating nature.

And while we like to think we’re educating through fun interactions, sometimes it’s the party recipient themselves who teaches us all a lesson in caring.  Young Mia was so determined to make a difference to ocean animals, she encouraged all her friends to make a donation to the Australian Marine Conservation Society – instead of bringing gifts.  She raised $200 to help fund efforts to preserve our oceans for generations to come.

It’s children like Mia and Nixon that makes it all worthwhile for us and even more reason we love to hang with our party animals.