BROWN PELICAN | 𝘗𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴

THE LAST BARRIER

Not a breath of wind blows, and the midday sun strikes the beaches of the Bahamas with all its strength.

On these sweltering days, the best thing to do is conserve energy and hope for a bit of shade.

That’s the decision this specimen of Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) has made. It has decided to seek some coolness by perching on branches in the outermost edge of the mangrove forest where it spends its days.

But it is not alone. Among the branches and submerged roots of the mangroves, just below it, a juvenile Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris) prowls stealthily. The little shark, probably only a few weeks old, measures just under a meter and has chosen the mangroves as a refuge, as young sharks of its species often do. For the pelican, it could be an easy meal, but the large bird doesn’t seem particularly interested in hunting at the moment.

Mangroves provide invaluable assistance to various animal species, which rely on their intricate branches to reproduce and raise their offspring.

In the lower canopy, seabirds like the pelican build their nests. Among the submerged roots, various species of fish take refuge from predators, just like the young lemon shark is doing.

Mangroves are the last barrier, a protected place where life thrives and seeks refuge from the perils of the open ocean.