The Prince of the Oceans - the Seahorse
Elegant, fragile, shy and unique. This is how I describe the seahorse - the prince of the oceans. It is the only species where the male gets pregnant and carries its babies til it gives birth. Are you jealous guys?
One finds these magnificent creatures in every ocean. They are capable to camouflage to fend of its predators. However, its main predator is the human being. This specie is threatened and getting closer to extinction. They are hunted for traditional Chinese medicine and also popular for aquarium trade. Besides being hunted, it is estimated that around 32 million of seahorse perish every year as a by-catch in certain fishing practices. It is calculated that if such behavior continues, the prince will be wiped out for ever within the coming 20 years. We need to stop this.
Most people would react by saying “Why should I bother?” or “What difference does the seahorse species do in my everyday life?”
Relevant questions indeed but very selfish. Can you imagine such approach about all the species on earth including humans? This society is responsible of a healthy being of its habitat and that comprises our forests, our oceans, our atmosphere and all living beings. If this deterioration an destruction continues, we will all become extinct… including you. So what can be done:
We need to change existing fishing practices and educate fishermen to put back to the sea pregnant male seahorses.
Establish more marine reserves and monitor them closely
Encourage more conservation through cultivation to relief huge pressures by the wild population that is currently over fished.
Learn more and create more awareness that every living creature we have on this plant is import to sustain a healthy ecosystem.