Salty jellies
Snorkelling around Tortola on Saturday, a Beaconite saw a translucent jellyfish ahead of him. Then he saw another that was slightly bigger. Then another smaller one. Then another and another. Somehow, the reporter had swum right into a school of moon jellies, which are pancake-like jellyfish with short tentacles about one quarter the diameter of their bulbs. Most moon jellies have four gonads in the centre of their “head,” which gives them a Spongebob Squarepants vibe. On Saturday afternoon, he had not yet researched the species and didn’t know too much about them, so he gave them a wide berth. Or he tried to — but with so many in the water it was impossible to completely avoid their little barbs, which are also called nematocysts. Fortunately, they didn’t sting him. Officially, humans are mostly immune to the effects of moon jellyfish, but some colonies possess stronger venom than others in different parts of the world. Also, some scientists say that people can develop a resistance to jellyfish venom if they come into contact with them frequently. In the shifting sunlight, the jellyfish almost seemed to be giving him lightshows with the fluorescent proteins some species possess. But he couldn’t reliably discern the refracted light shining through the water from his imagination. In any case, he enjoyed his time with the jellies, and he plans on returning soon to better record their “behaviour.” But can you call it behaviour if the being exhibiting it lacks a brain?
Water, water everywhere
A Beaconite found herself enjoying the beautiful views of the territory from various angles while she was hiking around Peter Island over the weekend. The scenery throughout the hike, which took her about two and a half hours, was a highlight of the trip. However, there was another thing on the trail that she did not expect to see but greatly appreciated. At different points along the trail — which sometimes was a paved road, other times a gravel path — were water stations. This was a welcome sight. Though she had packed enough water for the walk (she is from the desert, where such practices are taught young and never forgotten), it was nice to take a sip of refreshingly cold water from these stations. As the Virgin Islands heats up in the coming weeks, she advises everyone who spends much time outside — whether on a hike or otherwise — to bring plenty of water or be sure they know where to access it.
Win-win
Animal nightlife was the order of the day as the Humane Society of the BVI threw its annual swanky glamour-fest soiree centred around a pop-up casino on the sultry sands of Nanny Cay. Roulette wheels swirled in a frenzy of colours as blackjack dealers dished out the cards and dashed hopes while hands spilled over 21 and bets were surrendered to the house. This year also saw gaming innovations such as human slot machines, which nestled with old reliables like live crab racing. No mention was made of the possible urban myth that at one event an overexcited rebel tried to “release” the crabs into the lapping waters of the Caribbean only to drown them in the surf instead (hermit crabs don’t swim). A Beaconite was delighted to win 350 “dollars” — chips that can be exchanged for donated prizes at the end of the night. But he was definitely out-played by a friend who walked away with takings equivalent to more than $14,000. Still, the animal shelter can never lose: Organisers said the event raised about 39,000 real dollars for the good cause. And it’s not just down-on-their-luck dogs and cats that need looking after: In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the shelter even took in and cared for a bewildered emu. Will a Beaconite be back next year? You bet.
