Science and Nature

(CNS): Cayman Wildlife Rescue volunteers have successfully released a juvenile Brown Pelican that was rescued in Pease Bay. The pelican was found by a concerned member of the public in February during rough weather.  When the bird did not fly away when approached, it was apparent it was suffering as a result of the weather and needed emergency care. Volunteers captured the pelican and took it to Island Veterinary Services where the vet said the bird was slightly underweight and dehydrated.  The Pelican was taken to the Cayman Wildlife Rescue facility, where a dedicated band of volunteers ensured that he was fed sprats twice a day. 

(CNS): The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) will be hosting Cayman’s first underwater crime scene investigation (CSI) training course later this month. The three day course at the Little Cayman Research Centre forms part of its Dive with a Researcher (DWAR) Programme. The lead diver and instructor will be marine forensic biologist, Dr Hector Cruz-Lopez.  Dr Cruz-Lopez is a professor of Forensic Science at the Palm Beach State College Criminal Justice Institute and serves on the National Forensic Science Initiative at West Virginia University.

(CNS): Update 2:30 pm - The earthquake that shook Grand Cayman at 11:05 this morning has been upgraded slightly to a 4.6 magnitude tremor, as posted on the US Geological Survey (USGS) website. Hazard Management Cayman Islands says this is a light earthquake and that no damage had been reported. While this is the third earthquake in the Cayman region this year, all have been small and the island has remained unscathed, in contrast to the fallout in Chile from a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake on Saturday, which was 500 times stronger than the one that hit Haiti in January.

(CNS): Come Monday, 1 March, a lobster dinner could cost CI$500,000 plus jail time, as the 9-month closed season for lobsters begins. No one may take lobster from Cayman waters , or purchase, receive or possess lobsters taken from Cayman waters, throughout the closed season, which runs through 30 November. The Department of Environment (DoE) is reminding the public that violation of this and any of the Marine Coservation Laws is an offence carrying a maxiumum penalty of CI$500,000 fine and one year in jail.

(CNS): An article published in the health section of today’s edition of the Washington Post reveals that an American retired psychologist is planning to open what could be a third captive dolphin facility in the Cayman  Islands, this time under the guise of human therapy. The feature piece by Katherine Ellison examines the controversy surrounding dolphin-assisted therapy, which some say is just another way of exploiting both dolphins and humans for profit. In the article Ellison reveals that retired Florida International University psychologist, David Nathanson, aims to open what he calls a therapy centre in Cayman.

(BBC): Urgent action is needed to tackle the "mountains" of e-waste building up in developing nations, says a UN report. Huge amounts of old computers and discarded electronic goods are piling up in countries such as China, India and some Africa nations, it said. India could see a 500% rise in the number of old computers dumped by 2020, found the survey of 11 nations. Unless dealt with properly the waste could cause environmental damage and threaten public health, it said. The report gathered information about current levels of e-waste in 11 nations and also looked at how those totals might grow in the next decade. Globally, e-waste is growing at a rate of about 40 million tonnes per year.

(CNS): While the Cayman Islands has faced considerable criticism in numerous quarters for its lack of green credentials, the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is flying the flag in the region for genuine commitment to the environment. The park has become the first attraction of its kind in the Caribbean to attain Green Globe Certification, a travel, tourism and hospitality industry award that demonstrates a commitment to the environment and sustainable operations and management. The park has achieved 133 standards, implemented several environmental best practices and undergone a detailed third party audit to attain the green accolade.

(CNS): A specialist exhibition which highlights the many perils faced by Caribbean coral reefs is currently on show at George Town Public Library. The exhibit was brought to Cayman by staff from the Department of the Environment as a means of drawing attention to the challenges facing local reefs as they struggle to survive. The DoE came across the exhibit while attending the 2008 International Coral Reef Symposium. Originally developed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute it was revised by Florida State University and the modules show common environmental challenges as well as many local attempts within the Caribbean to conserve, sustainably utilize, or restore reefs and related eco-systems.

(CNS): Giving the ongoing struggle to address the breeding problem at the Cayman Islands Turtle Farm, a recent undisclosed donation from a local law firm will give five of the farm’s breeders a fighting chance to reproduce this year. Appleby will be sponsoring Buckshot, Florence, Honey, Old Yellow and Submarine for the 2010 calendar year. With 2,274 pounds and 175 years between them, the contribution should help the farm’s experts get to grips with the current problems associated with the hatchling and other efforts to understand and protect the endangered marine turtles.

(CNS): Hazard Management have now confirmed details of this morning’s earth quake, the second in the Cayman region in a month. Officials said Grand Cayman experienced a minor earth tremor of 3.7 at around 2.45 am on Friday 12 February. The seismic event occurred some 30 miles south of George Town at a depth of 10KMs. Despite reports from residents that they had felt a tremor in the early hours of the morning, officials said they struggled to source exact details of the latest regional quake.  Although HMCI took proactive steps to follow up on the first inquiry it received, it said that it took some time to confirm the earthquake.

(Center for Biological Diversity): US officials said Wednesday they have begun a review to determine if dozens of coral species off Florida, Hawaii and island territories of the Caribbean and Pacific should be listed as "threatened" or "endangered." Currently, only reef-building staghorn and elkhorn corals are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, the first corals ever to receive such protection based on dramatic declines. In the federal register Wednesday, the National Marine Fisheries Service said an Oct. 20 petition filed by a U.S. conservation group "presents substantial scientific or commercial information" indicating protection may be warranted for 82 additional species.

(CNS): Highlighting what it says are some of the shocking threats to the local environment the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) is now working on its third edition of the Green Guide series. Illustrating how everyday life is inextricably linked to the natural environment the institute says it is hoping to inspire individuals to make changes that will have a positive impact on the environment. The book is being sponsored by local law firm Ogiers and will be available in April.

(CNS): Following a recent rescue of a hawksbill turtle which became tangled in discarded fishing line at the Sundivers “Turtle Reef” dive site in West Bay, the Department of Environment (DoE) is asking those out on the water to take more care with their fishing lines and nets. Entangled turtles usually die from injuries caused by loops of line tightening around their flippers—or drown when they cannot break lines to reach the surface. Although in the most recent case DoE divers were able to save the turtle, the department says entanglement in lost fishing line is one of the leading causes of severe injury and death for turtles. (Picture Grahman Harris).

(CNS): The QE II Botanic Park in Frank Sound was offering thanks recently to a local donor who has given over $6,000 to its new orchid garden. Park officials said the new garden will be unveiled at the forthcoming annual Orchid Show on 13 and 14 February, and it provides another avenue for the protection and conservation of Cayman’s native orchids, as well as a focal point for education. The new garden will consist of a boardwalk over the natural woodland area that is home to Cayman’s extensive orchid collection, including nine of the 26 species known to be native to the Cayman Islands. (Photo - Cayman’s ghost orchid)