A.I's not the only thing you need to worry about
You have no doubt heard that A.I is coming for our jobs.
I say it’s the sea lions we need to worry about.
In case you missed the news, Australian scientists enlisted the help of wild sea lions to map previously unknown parts of the ocean floor.
Miniature cameras with satellite tracking were attached to the backs of the animals, which captured amazing footage of seagrass beds, reefs and underwater tunnels across 5000 square km of territory.
Who would have imagined marine mammals could double as research assistants?
In fact, I suspect that seals and sea lions alike are among the cleverest creatures out there - as well as some of the most playful.
I encountered that latter quality on a snorkelling trip in the Galapagos Islands, where I met a cheeky sea lion that decided to show off all its tricks.
It performed somersaults and twists, fast deep dives and close encounters, skimming just centimetres under my belly.
When it was done, it hovered expectantly in the water near me as if to say, “Your turn – what can you do?”
I’m not the only one with a soft spot for these animals. When sea lions recently took over a beach in Monterey California, authorities swung into action to keep onlookers away.
Despite that, seals and sea lions are under threat across the world.
The point of the Australian research was to learn more about the lives of these critically-endangered animals, whose numbers have plunged in the last decades.
There are only around 10,000 of them scattered along the southern and western coastlines.
And now bird flu has entered the equation. Thousands of seals and sea lions have already died of the disease in both North and South America.
Here’s hoping scientists can come up with a vaccine for the animals – and that funds can be found for the roll-out.
Want to do something to help? Sign up for World Wildlife Fund’s Adopt a Sea Lion program.
One more thing
Head for Seoul next week if you are after a big hit of contemporary art. As part of Seoul Art Week, the city’s galleries will unveil new exhibitions, installations and events, while not one but two big international art fairs - Frieze Seoul and KIAF Seoul - come to town.