Tag Archives: sharks

Amazing Animal Videos

A while back I wrote about a baby water buffalo who had survived a lion and a crocodile attack –all of which was caught on tape. I was so impressed by that baby water buffalo and his brave herd. (The herd had come back to help save the baby and chased off the lions.) But recently two other amazing animal videos have come to my attention. Dolphins Try to Save Their Own On YouTube there are a ton of dolphin rescue videos. Mostly of people saving dolphins, though. There are a couple of dolphins saving whales, but the other day … Continue reading →

Discovery Channel’s Shark Week: I Stand Corrected

Earlier this week I wondered if the Discovery Channel was sending mixed messages with its Shark Week programming. On the one hand they had sponsors like the Ocean Conservancy advocating shark awareness and conservation, but on the other they were running programs like Ocean of Fear, which, well, inspires fear of sharks. I’ve been following some of the other shows they’ve aired this week. They’re not just running sensational shark attack stories. (Although they are running a fair amount of those as well.) They’re also running ones that feature people trying to better understand and save sharks. The Myth of … Continue reading →

Shark Week on Discovery Channel: Mixed Messages?

Last night the Discovery Channel kicked off its 20th anniversary celebration of Shark Week with a documentary: “Ocean of Fear: Worst Shark Attack Ever.” It examined what happened to the surviving soldiers left to float in the water for five days in the Philippine Sea after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during WWII. (If you missed it they’ll replay it again on August 4 and September 2.) Here’s the thing: the documentary was dandy. It was entertaining and thought-provoking, but also frightening. Not that it was scary like a horror movie but it emphasized the dangerous and predatory nature … Continue reading →

For Mother Ocean Day: The Hammerhead Story

Photo by Jason VanDorsten My husband is always shaking his head over my love for animals, reptiles, and everything in between, and my enthusiasm for “helping” them when I see them in distress. Since today is Mother Ocean Day, I’d like to honor it by sharing one of my dearest beach memories. From 1999 until 2005, my husband and I lived in Jacksonville, Florida, and we often frequented the beach. It’s common for people to fish from the shoreline, and common for them to catch things. Sharks (mostly small ones, sometimes larger ones) among them. On this particular day, a … Continue reading →

Weekend Wanderings: The Dallas World Aquarium

A few weeks ago, I lost a very good friend and since that time, I’ve made a new commitment to living life and to stop putting things off for another time or a so called better time. As a part of this commitment, my daughter and I have become weekend wanderers and we’re determined to explore our local area and visit the attractions, see the sights and learn what we can. So this week, I am introducing you to what I hope will be the first of many Weekend Wanderings. The Dallas World Aquarium Located in the West End, The … Continue reading →

Adventure Travel–Swimming With Sharks

My best friend who lives on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu has been playing tour guide to her 12-year-old nephew who is visiting from Texas. For the past week she has taken him to all of the local hangouts that we used to frequent as children. But, yesterday, she called to tell me that they had done the unthinkable—something we had never considered doing while growing up in Hawaii—swim with sharks. Typically, when someone offers to take you “swimming with the sharks,” you would likely respond with a simple “no thank you” and make tracks in the opposite direction. However, … Continue reading →