The Good of 2011

Be sure to read Mike's latest post recapping the good things / people of 2011 as related to the shark world - you might be surprised.  Learn who is the most improved NGO, impressive individual shark advocate, and more.  Part two will likely bring some flair - the BAD of 2011.

Complete post

Who says land wolves and ocean tigers cannot live together peacefully?

They can, and it's so easy - here is the proof:

Photo: Isabel Muscat (Bahamas, 2011)

As in all good relationships, love, humility, and respect are the essentials to achieve such wonderful harmony.

Once again (it can't hurt.... :-): Have a wonderful and harmonious 2012!!!

2012

Despite all the fears and gloomy predictions of difficult times that lie ahead of us, let us keep up the hope that the new year will be an acceptable one, at the very least.

Shark lovers: I wish you and me to have safe and enjoyable close encounters of our special kind during 2012, and may the god of sharks protect his creatures from ruthless finners, senseless nets, and those "celebrity" psychopaths who hate and exploit them.

Bahamian and Florida tiger sharks

: Protected, at last!

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (Tiger Beach 2011)

Click to enlarge

The passion for sharks: Can it be in the genes?

Most definitely not.

On the other hand, when you look at my five months old grandson Wolfgang Alexander you might think that the love of sharks runs indeed in the family... :-)

Whatever, when it comes to love, that most mysterious of all deep emotions, what do we really know?...

It is my gorgeous Woelfchen who rekindled the flame of an old, worn-out heart I thought was extinguished a loooooong time ago.

Woelfchen - you are a magician!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

What? More of the same?

Yes, I know.

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (Tiger Beach 2011)

Click to enlarge

And yet, somehow I like these two tiger shark images quite a bit.

One shows, again, how incredibly attentive tiger sharks look at you. This is what made a profound impression on me when I saw them for the first time in my life back in March 2007, at Tiger Beach. I looked into their dark eyes, and I immediately felt what the French call "le coup de foudre" (= love at first sight).

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (Tiger Beach 2011)

Click to enlarge

The other image is full of that indescribable, captivating ambiente when you dive with sharks at dusk (shark attack "experts" say that is the time of the day you should avoid swimming in the ocean.... What do they know?...).

That's all, folks, I haven't got anything else to say, today..... :-)

Pretty woman walking down the street ...

... of my life.

I was madly in love with that 26 year old pretty girl I married in December 1975.

Now, at 62, Karin is a beautiful woman, and I still love her. She loves me, too - "nicht immer und trotz alledem" (= not always and in spite of everything) :-)

Am I not a lucky man??