Beautiful Animals

It's on page 687, Snood.

I got to ride some awesome waves with a bunch of mullet. We were bumping each other a lot. My guess is that theirs was a food interest rather than a wave riding event but it was pretty neat nevertheless.

Riding the waves with an orca would be absolutely [words fail me]!!!

A Hawaiian monk seal rests on the shore in Hawaii (photo by NOAA permit.)
photo: Michelle Barbieri, The Marine Mammal Center, SF



Most people who encounter a Hawaiian monk seal in the wild do so when the endangered marine mammals are resting on shore — a time when it's especially important not to disturb them (photo by NOAA permit.) Photo: Noaa, Charles Littnan / SF



Abandoned as a pup on Kauai, Hoailona was relocated to Molokai by federal wildlife agents and later spent about two years in rehabilitation in Santa Cruz before returning to the Hawaiian islands to live, where he helps educate visitors to the Waikiki Aquarium about his species' plight. Photo: Jeanne Cooper, Special To SFGate / SF



A Hawaiian monk seal rests on the rocky shoreline of the Kahanu Garden preserve near Hana, Maui. (Photo taken with zoom lens to maintain proper distance.) Photo: Jeanne Cooper, Special To SFGate / SF



The sandy beaches of Kauai have seen a rise in sightings of Hawaiian monk seals, with some resting near popular snorkeling or swimming sites. Keeping at least 100 feet away from the federally protected animals is recommended; harassing a Hawaiian monk seal is also a felony under state law. Photo: Kauai Visitors Bureau / SF



A Hawaiian monk seal swims in the waters of Laysan Island in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in 1969. The population there has been steadily declining despite protections from receiving endangered species status in 1976. Photo: Dr. James P. McVey, NOAA / SF

I told him, Osso, about 6 or 8 posts back.

Red spitting cobra: Naja pallida

I missed that since I have you on ignore.

I will consider taking you off, if you behave yourself re your anti u.s. rants on every possible thread. Whether I agree with you or not is irrelevant - you behave like a pest.
I do notice you don't do it on this thread, a point in your favor.

(Sorry, Roberta)

You obviously miss a lot when you resort to the cowardly use of ignore, Osso.

No thread is sacrosanct. Not this one or any other one. When people post nonsense/drivel, it gets pointed out.



Do as you wish, Osso, it makes no never mind to me. It's rather silly to suggest me a pest when it's the USA slaughtering and terrorizing so many, so often, with zero regard for anything but placing themselves in the finest financial positions.

That's not anti-US. I'd just as soon it was some other country but those pesky things called facts just don't stack up well for the USA.

Had a brilliant meal at Orvieto on the last night of a seven day hike through Tuscany, thanks for bringing back that memory.

You're very welcome, and glad you're enjoying the blog.

Thanks to all for all the great pics. No time to comment on each.

What's the "immortal one"?

You guys are da best.

Turritopsis nutricula, which is als called the immortal jellyfish.



it has the potential to live forever, I wish I had such capabilities.

I just read up about these. The potential is there for immortality. Amazing. Thanks for introducing me (us) to such a thing.

Baby pygmy hippo:

King cheetah on the move:

Emperor penguin on the move:

Secretary Bird

How many other big cats like water ? ....

He doesn't look like he's enjoying it as much as this guy:

Baby pygmy hippo

Seems like an oxymoron.

HH, Secretary birds are wonderful looking. And they make a helluva noise. There are a few at the Bronx Zoo. Loved looking at them. Not so much with the listening. Tigers are true water lovers. Thanks for the great pics of them--wet.

Macaws:

Ooh, will have to try and find some audio

Saw this last night - freaky moonwalking bird