Freediver Mike Wells has relived his perilous swim through a 120-metre undersea tunnel off the New South Wales north coast – on a single breath. Also The Grassy Key facility conducted a study on dolphins that shows they understand the concept of hidden objects. Simply put, the skill, known as object permanence, is the ability to reason about things that have disappeared. For more under the sea tales head to underwatertimes.com
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Dubai mall aquarium shark tank a ‘bloodbath’ after fights. Bloodthirsty shark fights in one of the world’s biggest aquariums are threatening the opening celebrations of a new Dubai shopping centre. Razor-toothed Sand Tiger sharks have killed at least 40 smaller reef sharks and have been aggressive towards divers working on final preparations in the giant tank. The ten million-litre aquarium features the world’s largest school of sharks and is the centrepiece of the new 5.9million sq ft Burj Dubai Mall.
But as the grand opening on October 30 creeps closer, fears are rising that the amazing marine spectacle may become a bloodbath before shoppers’ eyes.
The tank contains more than 400 sharks and a total of 33,000 living specimens overall, including manta rays.
But the concentration of so many sharks in the same space has caused even the mall’s general manager to admit to some teething problems.
Yousuf Al Ali said: “It is inevitable that aquatic species die, sometimes out of natural causes or out of injuries inflicted by bigger fish species.”
Several divers carrying out maintenance in the tank have also been attacked by the aggressive sharks, which have also damaged some equipment.
The aquarium features a 270-degree acrylic walkthrough tunnel designed to give shoppers close encounters with some of the most diverse marine life on the planet.
At this rate they might get ringside seats at the world’s greatest shark fight.
Japanese scientists teach whale to talk
Scientists in Japan have given a beluga whale a vocabulary of three words, the first time a marine creature has been able to link a sound to an object and then repeat the sound as a ‘word’.
Nack, a 23-year-old beluga whale at the Kamogawa Sea World aquarium in Chiba Prefecture, has been taught to make different noises for a bucket, diving goggles and a pair of diving fins, said Takashi Murayama, a professor at Tokai University who has been training the creature for the last five years.
“Beluga whales are very intelligent, friendly and they enjoy being trained in this way,” he said.
“Right now Nack only knows three words, but we are working on the whale recognising different people and giving them a sound as well.
“After that, we want to teach it to express likes and dislikes, something that is interesting instead of boring, and be able to say if something is painful,” he said.
Nack gives off short, high-pitched sounds to identify the diving fins, a long, higher-pitched note for the goggles and a short, lower tone for the bucket.
When the sounds are played back into the water, the whale is able to understand the noise and identify the object.
Professor Murayama said the breakthrough is the first conversation with a cetacean and that he hoped it might lead to humans and whales exchanging greetings in the not-too-distant future.
The high intelligence of whales and dolphins has made them a popular target for research.
Dolphins were famously portrayed as more intelligent than humans in Douglas Adams’ story The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The dolphins managed to leave earth shortly before it was destroyed saying: “So long, and thanks for all the fish.”
Swedish fisherman reels in elk carcass
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 23 (UPI) — A Swedish fisherman said he reeled in a 500-pound to 600-pound elk while fishing with a friend in the country’s Lillsjon Lake.
Joel Lagekvist said his first thought Sunday when the outline began to surface was that the behemoth might still be alive, The Local reported Monday.
“My first thought was, ‘What the hell do I do if it starts to run at me?’” Lagekvist said.
The fisherman said he rushed to shore and phoned police, but he had a difficult time getting anyone to believe his fish tale.
“I told a few people what had happened, but no one believed me,” he said.
However, by Sunday evening a crowd had gathered to yank the giant corpse out of the water. Police said it is believed to have died after being gored in the groin by another elk.
Lagekvist said he and his friend each took home an antler as a souvenir of their catch.
For more under the sea tales head to underwatertimes.com
Listen/Download Jeff Dudas talking Fishy Tales on 19th Sept 2008