We are so thrilled and honoured to announce that Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey has been nominated in three categories in the @wildscreenorg Panda awards.

The film — which has helped shine a spotlight on these fascinating creatures, and the threats they face — was truly a team effort.

In collaboration with @africanpangolinconservation @lapalala_wilderness, and @pangolincrisis, director @the_rewilding and producer @georgechignell brought Kulu’s story to life — and the film has been nominated for a Production and Direction Panda.

The film has also received a nomination for Sound, which was so ably managed and engineered by @barry_donnelly_insta

Music plays a huge role in the documentary, and has also been nominated for a Panda. All thanks go to the creative talents of @zolanimahola @sky_dladla @annenikitin @alastairmcnamaracomposer and @tsbkelly

And, of course, we thank @maverick_gareth for bringing us Kulu’s story and sharing it so beautifully, and @africa_alive @funnykerk @anoncontent @netflixfilm and @wildarcfilms for helping to bring Pangolin to homes all over the world. 🙏🏼

#seachangeproject #kulu #pangolin #pandaawards #wildscreen @_nicci_wright_ @munyaicaswell @prof_ray_j

#0015 Cape sole – Heteromycteris capensis

Like all soles and their related flounders, these endemic fish are easily recognised by their extremely flattened bodies. For casual observers, however, seeing a Cape sole – let alone recognising it – can be tricky, as they are often partially buried in sediment, lying on their left sides, and are typically cryptically patterned. They can also be confused with other regional species – of which there are about 50 – as their colour patterns are highly variable and can quickly change in the same individual to match the background. So, what identification features set the Cape sole apart? First, they lack the upper pectoral fin (the small fin situated just behind the fish’s head), and, second, they have a distinctively hooked snout that curves over their mouth. However, getting close enough to observe these can be challenging, as Cape soles swim away on their sides and rebury themselves when disturbed. But in a fascinating interaction, Craig got up close and personal with one individual that decided to cling to his hand. Can you guess why? Read his blog on our website to find the answer (link in bio).

#1001species #1001seaforestspecies #saveourseasfoundation #seachangeproject #marinebiology #greatafricanseaforest #taxonomy #capesole @saveourseasfoundation

Here’s a round-up of some positive stories that will help protect our blue planet.

Image 2: 📸 @instabo68
Image 3: 📸 @stevedeneef

#seachangeproject #ocean #action @riveractionuk @thewcs #cites #plastic #sharks #rays

#14 Upside-down ascidian amphipod – Policheria atolli

These delicate, 5mm-long shrimp-like animals are expert excavators. They create shallow burrows in the surface of ascidians – which are sessile organisms that grow on rocks – and then lie upside-down inside them with their legs pointing upwards. To protect themselves from predators, these little creatures have nippers on the end of their legs, which can be used to pull their burrows closed – a bit like drawing a curtain. Other specialised legs pump water through the burrow and capture food. Our marine biologist and scientific lead of the 1001 Seaforest Species project, Jannes Landschoff, recently stumbled upon a colony of these amphipods in an unusual place. See his blog for more – link in bio.

#1001species #1001seaforestspecies @saveourseasfoundation #taxonomy #greatafricanseaforest #seachangeproject #storytelling #marinescience

We’ve had time to reflect on the recent United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) — the positives and the negatives. And we’re now even more committed to keep working for our blue planet. 💙

Pictures: OceanX and Sea Change Project

@unoceandecade @brodie_rudolph_tanya #seachangeproject #unoc #ocean @oceanx @swatithiyagarajan

#0013 Colonial worm-shell (Dendropoma corallinaceum)

They might look like worms, but these ‘reefs’ of whorled creatures are actually snails. What’s unusual about these gastropods is that they don’t move, hence the possible confusion with worms. Permanently attached to surfaces, often rocks, they form dense colonies that are normally overgrown by coralline algae. Here, they catch food by making a net out of mucus, which they cast out to snag floating particles and then haul in to devour their meal whole. These encrusting snails benefit from being sessile by being able to stand their ground in a high-wave environment in the lower intertidal zone. However, this sedentary lifestyle means they are easy pickings for predators such as rock crabs.

Pictures: Jannes Landschoff

@saveourseasfoundation #1001seaforestspecies #biodiversity #taxonomy #seachangeproject #marinescience #1001species

Meet Stellenbosch biology graduate Kira-Lee Courtaillac, wrangler of sampling containers, cold-water stalwart, and biodiversity scholar. Together with Sea Change marine biologist Jannes Landschoff and molecular ecologist Prof Sophie von der Heyden, based at Stellenbosch University, Kira-Lee penned a groundbreaking paper that shows the diversity and distribution of fish communities in the Great African Seaforest – from the cold west coast to the warmer south coast. The research saw Kira-Lee spending cumulative hours in the forest capturing 192 water samples from eight different sites in a process called environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Essentially, eDNA probes for organisms’ molecular footprints: the samples are filtered, and DNA is extracted and sequenced to produce a detailed picture of all the fishes in the kelp forest. It’s challenging, shiver-inducing, and exciting hard work! The research – the first to comprehensively look at the Great African Seaforest as an entire ecosystem – shows how biodiversity differs from region to region, which means tailored protection or management methods are needed for different areas, and provides a crucial baseline for future monitoring. We are super proud of Kira-Lee and honoured to be collaborating with the Von der Heyden Lab. This is science in action … to inform science-based action.

Follow the link in our bio for the paper.

@von_der_heyden_lab @kira.courtz @stellenboschuni @jannes_landschoff #greatafricanseaforest #edna #stellenboschuniversity #seachangeproject #biodiversity

#0012 Sinous sea fan — Eunicella tricoronata

Look at the first shot and you’ll see what looks like a fuzzy halo around the branches of this sinous sea fan. Zoom in on the second macro image, and you’ll see what this is: hundreds of pale polyps topped by eight tentacles that create a star-like formation. These tiny appendages are the engines that keep the colony alive. Sinous sea fans, found in a range of yellow and orange hues, have a stiff inner skeleton made of a horn-like protein called gorgonin. They’re slow-growing and are thought to live for decades – thanks to those little tentacles. When the polyps are extended, creating that ‘fuzz’, the eight tentacles snag small planktonic organisms from the water column. Sinous sea fans are popular sites for catshark eggs, as they have stinging cells that protect the egg casings from whelk predation (see image 3).

@saveourseasfoundation #1001 #1001seaforestspecies #greatafricanseaforest #marinescience #taxonomy #biodiversity #seachangeproject #1001species

#0011 – Feather star shrimp – Hippolyte catagrapha

Safety definitely comes first for this cunningly camouflaged shrimp. Can you spot it hidden along the arms of this Elegant feather star? Its colour not only matches its host, it also has a longitudinal stripe that blends in with the arms of the feather star. Because of their incredible camouflage and cryptic behaviour, Feather star shrimps are not easy to spot. However, usually one shrimp can be found on every large Elegant feather star. Even though these two species live closely together there’s still a lot we don’t know about the shrimp’s life - like what it eats. We think that the shrimp snatches food particles from the Feather star’s arms, though much remains to be discovered about this fascinating relationship.

Pictures: Jannes Landschoff

@saveourseasfoundation #1001species #1001speciesproject #biodiversity #greatafricanseaforest #seachangeproject #1001species

Tomorrow is World Environment Day, with a focus on plastic pollution. From the teeniest creatures and flowing kelp forests, to large predators and eight-armed friends, all life is woven together. And we are part of this great, biodiverse system. Now, more than ever, our more-than-human world needs us to do better. By living with intention — pausing before we make choices — we can create space for better options, better ways, better actions — for outcomes that don’t just better our lives, but all life on Earth.

#worldenvironmentday🌍 #sustainability #plasticpollution #plastic #biodiversity #seachangeproject #myoctopusteacher