(Images taken from my Go-Pro 3+ time-lapse)
Over the past week I have been very privileged to help set up camera kit for the autopsy of two Porpoises and two seal pups. Working as a team we set up three Panasonic P2hd cameras, followed by Go Pro time lapses and SLR cameras both Nikon/Canon to document the dissection. The P2 cameras would help stream everything to the surrounding Macs and projectors so that surrounding students can see what is going on. The first camera was attached to the ceiling to give a birds eye view, then one was set up on a tripod on the side and then the final camera was in the middle of the action to capture close ups. The job was a lot more technical that I first thought but it was really fun.
But why were we doing this I here you ask? Well, these's wonderful creatures had unfortunately died and were found washed up on the beach. So to find the cause of death the CSIP (Cetacean Stranding's Investigation Programme) dissect the animal. Each year approximately 500 cetacean stranding are reported around the UK, cetaceans include Whales, Dolphins and of course harbour porpoises. As for seals there are two different species that can be found here and that is the Grey Seal and the Common Seal but on the occasion arctic species can be found. But dissecting these animals are not only useful for the vets to record data etc. its also very important for the future generations of biologists and zoologists. So this is where we come in and help the scientists collect data but also show all the students. Once the animals are fully dissected zoologists students were able to get a hands on experience as were we...
What did we learn?
From the morning dissection the vets discovered that the porpoise had died due to having broken rips and fractured skull from being attacked by a Bottle-nosed Dolphin. As for the afternoon, the porpoise was riddled with parasites which was caught from eating possibly polluted fish, having a body full of parasite causes blood clots. The first seal died due to a blow to the back of head and the second Seal pup suffered from a broken flipper so was unable swim and catch for food. Overall it was an incredibly insightful experience and a joy to help out the fellow students and Vets. And if you ever come across a marine animal stranded on a beach please call the CSIP hotline: 0800 6520333
On Another News:
My website has been a little quite lately because I was finishing up on my gastropod project, images will be posted in the macro section shortly. But now that project is finished I will be beginning my new project filming the life of the river and heading off shore with AK Wildlife Cruises to film the cornish wildlife throughout the seasons. So two very exciting projects to stick my teeth into. For more information keep an eye on this page!
Over the past week I have been very privileged to help set up camera kit for the autopsy of two Porpoises and two seal pups. Working as a team we set up three Panasonic P2hd cameras, followed by Go Pro time lapses and SLR cameras both Nikon/Canon to document the dissection. The P2 cameras would help stream everything to the surrounding Macs and projectors so that surrounding students can see what is going on. The first camera was attached to the ceiling to give a birds eye view, then one was set up on a tripod on the side and then the final camera was in the middle of the action to capture close ups. The job was a lot more technical that I first thought but it was really fun.
But why were we doing this I here you ask? Well, these's wonderful creatures had unfortunately died and were found washed up on the beach. So to find the cause of death the CSIP (Cetacean Stranding's Investigation Programme) dissect the animal. Each year approximately 500 cetacean stranding are reported around the UK, cetaceans include Whales, Dolphins and of course harbour porpoises. As for seals there are two different species that can be found here and that is the Grey Seal and the Common Seal but on the occasion arctic species can be found. But dissecting these animals are not only useful for the vets to record data etc. its also very important for the future generations of biologists and zoologists. So this is where we come in and help the scientists collect data but also show all the students. Once the animals are fully dissected zoologists students were able to get a hands on experience as were we...
What did we learn?
From the morning dissection the vets discovered that the porpoise had died due to having broken rips and fractured skull from being attacked by a Bottle-nosed Dolphin. As for the afternoon, the porpoise was riddled with parasites which was caught from eating possibly polluted fish, having a body full of parasite causes blood clots. The first seal died due to a blow to the back of head and the second Seal pup suffered from a broken flipper so was unable swim and catch for food. Overall it was an incredibly insightful experience and a joy to help out the fellow students and Vets. And if you ever come across a marine animal stranded on a beach please call the CSIP hotline: 0800 6520333
On Another News:
My website has been a little quite lately because I was finishing up on my gastropod project, images will be posted in the macro section shortly. But now that project is finished I will be beginning my new project filming the life of the river and heading off shore with AK Wildlife Cruises to film the cornish wildlife throughout the seasons. So two very exciting projects to stick my teeth into. For more information keep an eye on this page!