ANIMALS

Canada Establishes Two Protected Areas in the Ocean to Aid Endangered Arctic Animals

The Arctic is facing a critical situation, and Canada is taking action instead of remaining passive. In order to assist the endangered Arctic animals, the Canadian government has established two expansive ocean sanctuaries.

Given the current circumstances of global warming, Arctic wildlife has become highly susceptible to climate change. It’s worth mentioning that the unusual melting of ice, which has worsened compared to previous years, is having a devastating impact on the entire planet. Therefore, Canada’s efforts to safeguard the Arctic environment deserve great appreciation.

These sanctuaries will span approximately 165,000 square miles, aiming to shield the icy region from drilling, mining, and fishing activities. While the initiative may not halt the rapid ice-melting process, it is a significant stride in our planet’s battle against global warming, and it will undoubtedly preserve numerous endangered animals.

The biggest sanctuary is called Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area, which translates to “the place where the ice never melts” in the Inuktitut language. True to its name, this location is one of the rare spots on our planet where the sea ice remains intact all year round.

According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, “this remote area contains the oldest and thickest sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. While sea ice in the Arctic continues to decline, the ice in this region is expected to endure the longest. As a result, this area could become a unique and vital habitat for ice-dependent species like walruses, seals, and polar bears. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, expressed his support for the project, stating, “Freezing any new human activities will help ensure the ice that never melts will remain true to its name,”

This initiative would protect various animals, including polar bears, Arctic foxes, narwhals, walruses, and numerous bird species.

“This deal will turn Tuvaijuittuq into one of the world’s largest conservation areas while also supporting local food security, infrastructure and employment needs,” Paul Okalik, senior adviser for Arctic conservation at WWF Canada told to media. “We’re trying to maintain a viable, conservation-based economy.”

The International Union for Conservation reports that Tallurutiup Imanga provides a safe haven for nearly 75% of the world’s narwhal population, along with the largest population of polar bears in the Canadian Arctic. Additionally, about 20% of Canada’s beluga population also calls this area home.

“It is a large natural and cultural seascape that is one of the most significant ecological areas in the world. It is critical habitat for species such as the polar bear, bowhead whale, narwhal, and beluga whale. For Inuit living in the region, called both Tallurutiup Imanga and Tallurutiup Tariunga by the Inuit, it is a place rich in culture and wildlife,” according to Parks Canada.

“By protecting Tallurutiup Imanga, and seeking permanent protection for Tuvaijuittuq, we not only save these pristine Arctic ecosystems but also lay the foundation for a conservation economy in sustainable industries such as fisheries,” P.J. Akeeagok, president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, told in a statement. “These investments in jobs and infrastructure will have profound impacts in the High Arctic and serve as a model of what can be achieved when we work as equal partners in the spirit of reconciliation.”

ANIMALS

Amazing Video of Unseen Ocean Creatures in the Ningaloo Canyons

The Schmidt Ocean Institute recently explored the Ningaloo Canyons on the western coast of Australia using a robotic underwater vehicle called the ROV Sebastian. Check out the amazing video of what they discovered in the deep parts of the Indian Ocean.

More info: Youtube

ANIMALS

These Pics Are Art and the Artists Are Insects

Flying insects move so quickly that they are hard to follow, but new technology and some smart ideas have helped Spanish photographer Xavi Bou do just that. After spending 10 years focusing on birds in flight for his Ornithographies project, he turned his attention to insects.

For Entomographies, he uses high-speed video footage taken by Adrian Smith, an insect expert at North Carolina State University, to study and record how insects move. Bou then picks multiple frames and combines them into single images that show the fast movements of one or more insects through space and time.

With Smith’s help, Bou has captured the aerial tricks of wasps, the jumps of leafhoppers, and the fluttering of butterflies in amazing detail. He hopes that by doing this, he can make people more aware of the decline in important insect populations around the world.

1. Zebra longwing

This butterfly, which is common in many areas of the Americas, really fits its name. It can fly very high with just a few flaps of its large wings.