Wildlife conservation is as important in the oceans as it is on the mainland. Ocean research gives us better information about what lives in the depths of our seas, so we can endeavor to keep them safe for future generations to enjoy. When you think Africa, you may not immediately think of its coastline and the animals that live there, but in fact, the African coast shelters many creatures, some in danger from human-made pollution and hunting. If you are searching for a profession in ocean conservation and love the ocean, spending time volunteering for projects in Africa is a perfect choice for your gap year.
You can find whale sharks in warm and tropical oceans and live for around 70 years. Although they were thought to feed mainly on plankton, the BBC program Planet Earth caught a shark feeding on a school of small fish. Their anatomy has evolved to allow them to be very effective when they are feeding and their large mouths which can be up to 1.5 metres wide allow them to collect and filter their food.
Considering their size you would think whale sharks would pose some danger to humans, however, in reality, they are docile fish and are not violent. Some divers have even suggested that the juveniles can be playful while they are in the water with them. One area where the sighting of a whale shark is reasonably common is in the Maldives, where a large preservation project of the coral reef includes the monitoring of whale sharks.
Research the Great White Shark- The Great White Shark is one of the most misunderstood creatures of the sea. However, this creature is an important part of the sea ecosystem and, as such, one of the animals focused on in the wildlife preservation programs in Africa.
Offshore oil exploration is a danger to the seas and the seas. The world relies on oil and the fact that there is a multitude of crude oil off the shore of many countries makes offshore drilling very profitable for oil production companies. But it takes only one mistake to cause an environmental disaster.
In the Maldives, the preservationists do not tag the sharks but instead use scientists and volunteers on preservation projects to track them by taking photos of the shark's gills. Interestingly, like a human's fingerprints, their gills are unique meaning that on a collection of photos and location data the scheme can track where the sharks have traveled - rather clever.
By studying dolphins and whales, you are not only learning to help them but also the entire ecosystem to which they belong. During your volunteer period, you will be tagging and tracking dolphins, tracking the whales on their annual migration and keeping an eye on population sizes.
Pollution unfortunately gets into the sea from many sources and can make swimmers unwell and obviously adversely impact the environment for marine life. Conservation work in this area usually focuses on educating locals about the effects of pollution and littering, as well as obviously some clean-up efforts to help prevent animals from ingesting elements accidentally, which can have fatal consequences.
You can find whale sharks in warm and tropical oceans and live for around 70 years. Although they were thought to feed mainly on plankton, the BBC program Planet Earth caught a shark feeding on a school of small fish. Their anatomy has evolved to allow them to be very effective when they are feeding and their large mouths which can be up to 1.5 metres wide allow them to collect and filter their food.
Considering their size you would think whale sharks would pose some danger to humans, however, in reality, they are docile fish and are not violent. Some divers have even suggested that the juveniles can be playful while they are in the water with them. One area where the sighting of a whale shark is reasonably common is in the Maldives, where a large preservation project of the coral reef includes the monitoring of whale sharks.
Research the Great White Shark- The Great White Shark is one of the most misunderstood creatures of the sea. However, this creature is an important part of the sea ecosystem and, as such, one of the animals focused on in the wildlife preservation programs in Africa.
Offshore oil exploration is a danger to the seas and the seas. The world relies on oil and the fact that there is a multitude of crude oil off the shore of many countries makes offshore drilling very profitable for oil production companies. But it takes only one mistake to cause an environmental disaster.
In the Maldives, the preservationists do not tag the sharks but instead use scientists and volunteers on preservation projects to track them by taking photos of the shark's gills. Interestingly, like a human's fingerprints, their gills are unique meaning that on a collection of photos and location data the scheme can track where the sharks have traveled - rather clever.
By studying dolphins and whales, you are not only learning to help them but also the entire ecosystem to which they belong. During your volunteer period, you will be tagging and tracking dolphins, tracking the whales on their annual migration and keeping an eye on population sizes.
Pollution unfortunately gets into the sea from many sources and can make swimmers unwell and obviously adversely impact the environment for marine life. Conservation work in this area usually focuses on educating locals about the effects of pollution and littering, as well as obviously some clean-up efforts to help prevent animals from ingesting elements accidentally, which can have fatal consequences.
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You can get fantastic tips for choosing an ocean conservation organization and more information about a great organization at http://www.drvonherbing.com/about right now.
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