New YEP Shark Ambassadors after Cape Town meeting!

written by Henko Roukema

Inspired young South African YEP, Henko Roukema, has combined his love of the ocean and sports to initiate various Theme Projects within the Pangaea Shark Project.

When he heard that Swiss YEP, Matthew, was visiting Cape Town, he quickly organized a YEP EXPLORE & LEARN meeting to expose this world traveller & his family to some of South Africa’s diversity.  Most of the other Cape Town YEPs could unfortunately not attend , but an enthusiastic Lolla, Matthew & aspiring YEP-to-be, Robin, arranged to meet Henko at the Save Our Seas Shark Centre in Kalk Bay near Cape Town, South Africa. The aim of this meeting was for the YEPs to LEARN more about sharks , their behavior, the impact humans have on their existence and to ultimately ACT by raising public awareness about sharks so that people will respect sharks in their natural environment.

Here is Henko’s feedback:  “Before sunrise on Saturday, April 16th, we all started travelling towards Kalk Bay (a fishing village in False Bay – the habitat of some of the world’s biggest concentrations of Great White Sharks!). Our day started early , but there was a good reason for it – low tide was at 8h00 and we had to be ready to EXPLORE!

Our SOS educational guide, Paul Miller, explored  the intertidal rock pool area in the Kalk Bay Marine Reserve with us as we learned about this amazing eco-system filled with bio-diversity. It was incredible to use our senses to see, smell, touch (with care!), feel the sea spray on our faces and listen to the roar of the waves breaking on the rocks while we LEARNED from an expert as he explained what all the different species are and their vital role in the ecosystem!  As he said – we cannot look at one species on its own – we have to understand the ocean’s complete ecosystem before focusing on one very vulnerable species – Sharks.”

“We saw barnacles, limpets, brittle stars, periwinkles, molluscs, tiny crabs & worms, sea anemones, mussels, jellyfish, sea stars, pre-historic creatures, harders and also evidence of coral growth in a very small area. The kelp forest has returned after abalone poaching was prohibited and we could experience the Circle of Life with sea gulls and oystercatchers having a feast!“

“The hours flew passed and too soon the tide came in and to our disappointment we were forced to leave the intertidal area. Little did we know that we were in for a miraculous experience! We found a “mermaid’s purse” (shark egg) and saw it hatch! It was incredible to see the baby shark come to life in the water! This exciting real life introduction to the life of sharks made us eager to learn more about this incredible species.“

“After hearing some alarming facts about sharks, we all decided that the world definitely needs to get a new perspective on sharks!“

2010: Only 5 human deaths were caused by sharks 

BUT humans slaughtered an estimate of 100 million sharks !

2017: up to 20 species of sharks could become extinct 

What are the biggest dangers that sharks face? 

• Finning for shark-fin soup
• Fisheries and by-catch
• Shark nets (in an effort to protect humans, sharks get killed when trapped in these nets)
• Jewelry (Shark teeth) and souvenirs (Shark jaws)
• Cosmetics (shark liver oil is a popular ingredient)
• Arthritis pills

“We spent a fantastic inter-active fieldtrip studying ocean life. It is also great to know that the financial contribution we made as a group will be used to give disadvantaged kids from the townships the opportunity to also explore & learn about our ocean life! Now that we have EXPLORED and LEARNED more about sharks & the dangers they face, we need to ACT! We MUST change the public’s attitude towards sharks!”

YEPs can ALL support the Pangaea Shark Project by 

• Encouraging  consumers to make informed choices – When we stop buying shark meat and fins, they'll stop fishing for it!
• Actively motivate and inspire people who sell shark products to STOP
• DON’T buy any shark jewelry, cosmetics, shark leather products
• Tell fishermen to release sharks they catch by accident

A final word of advice from Henko : “I can strongly advise all YEPs to give life to Mike Horn's Pangaea message –  I certainly enjoyed sharing my passion for the ocean with Matthew, Lolla & Robin. I am also very happy that by initiating this meeting, the YEPs now count three more Ambassadors for the Pangaea Shark Project!

Lastly a BIG thanks to Paul Miller from the Save Our Seas Shark Centre for spending a Saturday with us & sharing all  his knowledge!”

YEPs are welcome to read more details about this field trip and what the YEPs learned about inter-tidal zones and sharks by following Henko, Matthew & Lolla’s Blogs !

Henko's projects in support of the Pangaea Shark Project: 

• upcoming exciting Swim4Sharks project 
• Shark awareness project by helping to distribute Shark safety tips to beachgoers & ocean swimmers
• next official YEP Cape Town meeting on July 15, 2011

It's monday, 20:30h in Bühlerzell, Germany. Time for soccer practice. But for me not a normal training because since I'm back from the selection camp in Switzerland, I'm trying to get as fit as posible for the expedition which is ahead of us.

This means jogging, biking, hiking – and: pulling a sledge! By chance I've found the best training equipement ever. It is a little sledge on which you can put as much weight you want. While my mates are training for the next soccer match, I'm running and pulling my sledge. That's exactly why they call me crazy. But no, I'm not crazy, I'm just getting fit for the North Pole Expedition!

The people I meet while hiking with a 15kg backpack also stare at me. For them it must be strange to meet somebody who's just on a walk with her dog, but carries a big trekking bagpack. They might also think: „Is this girl crazy?“  And again: No I'm not.

Coming into a shop and asking for a downjacket when we have temperatures of about 20°C also causes confused looks by the venders. They ask me why I need a downjacket when summer starts in Germany. I can see it – they think I'm crazy. But when I tell them that I'm going on an expedition to the arctic they are always impressed and ready to help me. But nevertheless I have some difficulties to get winter equipment such as expedition boots or down clothes. Everywhere I ask for it people think I'm crazy. But I'm not.

„WHAT?! In the arctic there are temperatures of -25°C? Why for God's sake are you doing this? You must be totally crazy!“, that's how people sometimes react when they here about my adventure. But I'm just thinking: „No, I'm not crazy, I'm adventurous, curious and want to see everything with my own eyes. For me people are crazy who rather stay at home and watch movies about nature than exploring it on their own.

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Pangaea arrives in South Beach Harbour, San Francisco, in the early hours of the 11th of April. 'Arriving during the night is not ideal', says Mike 'but it was a spectacular view coming into the city of San Fancisco as all the bridges were lit up'.

The following day Mike greets guests from Geberit USA and they have a wonderful afternoon learning about the Pangaea expedition and learning about Mike's exploits around the world.

On the 18th of April Mike and the crew will leave South Beach Harbour and will head to Los Angeles.

The two Young Explorers Christopher and Luana met up this weekend to train for the upcoming North Pole Expedition. Michelle, who participated in the Malaysia Expedition, joined them on their preparation.

The sun is beating down making the snow all wet and slushy. Equipped with snowshoes and heavy backpacks we are struggling to climb up the steep and slippery slopes of the Swiss Alps. After each step we sink in deep making the hike an even greater effort.

Suddenly a loud and trembling noise alarms all of us. As we look up the face next to us we see an avalanche coming down. Help! Christopher starts running like crazy and Luana just stands there paralyzed with fear. A few meters in front of us the snowslide stops – luckily. This experience definitely taught us a lesson: Nature’s forces are never to be underestimated.

At 2500m we finally find a place to camp. Wrapped in warm cloths we sip a bowl of hot soup before the three of us squeeze in our two-man tent. At the cloudless sky the stars shine bright this night and temperatures drop. We stay nice and warm in our tent though, thanks to our excellent equipment.
The next morning we get up before sunrise ready and thrilled to ascend to the summit. We make it all the way to the top where a magnificent panorama is waiting for us. We are stuck by the beauty of the mountains surrounding us and we feel tremendously happy just to be exactly where we are.

Sunburnt, exhausted and proud to have accomplished another training session we are more and more ready for our expedition to the North Pole. Less than three weeks left!!!

We went into about 10 different classrooms telling students from ages 13 to 18 about Mike Horn, Pangaea and the Young Explorer’s Program. I told them about my experience at the selection camp, the Kamchatka expedition that was ahead of me, the North Pole expedition that they could apply for and whatever else came to my mind.

There were lots of questions to be answered as well. We distributed flyers to whoever wanted one and got rid of a lot during breaks. We hung up posters and flyers at the school and handed the folder designated to teachers to our Biology teacher Mr Batts.

We got many people and even teachers excited about the program and could pass our enthusiasm right onto them.
 

I'm back on Pangaea after an amazing experience with the Indian cricket team during the last world cup. I will never forget the roar in the stadium when the captain MS Dhoni hit the winning 6 to claim the world cup for India.

Tristan and myself had to leave Jacek behind in Vancouver when we sailed off to Seattle. It seemed strange to sail without him but we had no choice. It was only after a very long wait to get his appointment to go to the US consulate that Jacek finally managed to get his US visa and catch up with us again.

We had a short stay over in Seattle where we met up with Wenger and our old friends Chase Jarvis and Jerard. It's great to sail into town and have friends waiting for you to take you out and help you with your needs.

We left Seattle two days later and picked up Jacek at West Port along the coast sailing down to San Francisco. Both Tristan and myself are happy to have Jacek back with us especially when he arrived with a box full of freshly baked donuts. Let's see how we feel about him when there are no donuts left.

Mike hits the news in India after India's victory in World Cup Cricket.

Mike was called in by the Indian's Team South African Mental Stratigic Coach, Mr Paddy Upton to speak with the team prior to their matches and participate in training sessions.

Mike spoke about his many expeditions and experiences with the team and taught them to hold true to what they believe in, to cope under pressure and to know when to push their limits.

The speeches paid off, the team won, and Mike Horn felt humbled and thrilled to play a part in such an amazing experience.

The Economic Times – India  April 2011

Téléjournal – Montreal, Canada – April 2011

Mid Day.com – 4 April – 2011

The Daily Mail Online – 4 April 2011

The Daily mail – 4 April – 2011

Fox 11 AZ – 3 April 2011 – India

NDTV Sports – 3 April 2011 – India

in.com – Feb 2011 – India

UTube – Feb 2011 – India

Deccann Herald – Feb 2011 – India

Redcliff Sports – Feb 2011 – India

On the 7th expedition to Kamchatka, Russia. The 5 Young Explorers (Hayden Coburn, Michaela Korodimou, Maricella Uribe, Carla McKenzie and I- Saraya D’Ath) set up a project with Snow Dogs Kamchatka, which was the dog sledding business we used.

The aim of our Project is to create a website, to promote eco-tourism in the South Kamchatka region and to this family owned/ run business. On the website we plan to have text and images directly from Andrei and Nastya (the people who own Snow Dogs Kamchatka) and have it translated into 4 different languages, also an ‘adopt a dog project’ where individual or large businesses can sponsor a dog and they will receive regular updates and pictures of the dog.

Andrei has his own individual project called ‘the children of the North’ where he takes a pack of sled dogs up to the North Kamchatka, where the native people as they have been seriously affected by alcoholism and have lost all their traditions and culture.

He tries to bring hope to and inspiration into their lives and encourages them to turn back to their old way of life as it was more beneficial and sustainable.

We are fundraising for this project and hope one day to select a few young people to take a trip with Andrei up North to document and record their first hand experiences- this would then go on the website.

Last Tuesday the 22nd of March, I organised a bunch of people to help me bake and ice 118 cupcakes and sell 390 can of drink. It was a very successful day! we raised a total of $436.40…but there is still more to come.

I encourage you all to start your own fundraising projects, it’s something easy and fun you can organise with a group of friends. You’ll be very surprised at the amount of people who are keen to help out.

I must say a big ‘THANK YOU’ to my team who helped out on the day and before hand with the baking and icing of the cupcakes, also to my school student body who came along and brought a cupcake or a drink and had a guess at the Easter Egg competition. It was greatly appreciated!

In a couple of hours the 5 min bell would ring to start the World cup final. I can feel 1.2 billion Indians holding the hands of the 15 players. To be part of this is a great honor. I love that feeling of commitment, passion and determination running through the veins.

Arrived in Mumbai welcomed by thousands of people cheering as the team walked into the airport. On the way to the hotel people gathered on the pavements, taking photos, waving and calling out the names of the players. Our bus was followed by motorbikes with cameras and journalists with microphones doing a report sitting on the back of the bikes. It was amusing to see what people do to get a glimpse of their Hero's.