Happy World Aquatic Animal Day, folks! Every year, 3 April is dedicated to appreciating the diversity of those who live in the enchanting world beneath the water’s surface, as well as raising awareness of the significance of protecting them and their ecosystems.
Also read: Volunteers rally to save endangered turtles along South Africa’s coastline
Created in 2020, the annual awareness campaign was launched by the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative and the Animal Law Clinic at the Centre for Animal Law Studies of Lewis & Clark Law School in the USA, with the main goal of raising awareness of the threats facing aquatic animals and inspire people to take action to reduce our impact and protect them.
In light of this, we thought we’d share some of the incredible footage we get tagged in of the many aquatic animals that call Cape Town waters home.
Take a look:
‘Whether they roam the vast oceans, traverse through winding rivers, or thrive in serene lakes, these creatures are the unsung heroes of our ecosystem, diligently regulating and preserving the waters we all rely on,’ wrote Instagram user @melichouuux.
‘Let’s celebrate their diversity and raise awareness about the vital importance of protecting our aquatic friends today and every day! 💙🐠’
In another post, @melichouuux captured the playful charm of Cape fur seals in Cape Town:
We share more Cape fur seal content, courtesy of Instagram user @morganmulholland, because ‘captivated by cuteness overload’ is an understatement:
Speaking of ‘cuteness overload’, SA’s very own mermaid, @mermaid_danii captured crystal clear footage of a crazy encounter with a Cape clawless otter:
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In another post, @mermaid_danii shares a ‘once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a Hawksbill sea turtle in the kelp forest, with good old Patrick Star hitching a ride 🐢’:
Speaking of turtles, @martineviljoen reminds us that hatchling stranding season is upon us, so be sure to keep a lookout while walking the beaches in your area for any stranded loggerhead or leatherback hatchlings in need of assistance:
In another post, @martineviljoen shares footage of the Two Oceans Aquarium’s rescued Rockhopper penguins completing their daily waddle up to the Kelp Exhibit and (gracefully?) launching themselves into the water:
Instagram user @3square.digital captures a pretty pyjama shark roaming the waters in search of its next meal:
And, of course, we end off with footage from the Two Oceans Aquarium – an institution dedicated to the appreciation and protection of aquatic animals, courtesy of @philip_warrington:
World Aquatic Animal Day is significant because it raises awareness about the various issues faced by aquatic animals and the importance of taking steps to protect them. Threats to aquatic animals include habitat destruction, overfishing and pollution.
It is high time that we take measures to address these threats and ensure a sustainable future for our ocean ecosystems.
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Also read:
How a bold conservation effort is rescuing SA’s endangered sandfish
Picture: @capetownfreediving / Instagram