If you happened to be by the hill at night last week on Cousin Island, you would have heard a strange wail that sounds something like this, 'a-wooo-aaaa, 'a-wooo-aaaa'. It resounds all over this area in rock cavities and burrows. Sometimes it rises to a cacophony. For the uninitiated, it can be quite frightening. In fact, it was once associated with ghosts in the old days.

Nature is the grandest stage in the universe. Our conservation officer on Cousin Island Special Reserve, Chris Tagg, can testify to this. He sees nature in high definition every day. Last week, he saw something amazing.

In the shifting tides, their stilt-like roots anchor them in mud and brackish water, as they stand tall on the boundary between land and sea. They sift out our pollution and trap sediment from land, keeping it from reaching the ocean. They prevent flooding, storm surges, rising sea levels, and erosion. They support a variety of life and are excellent at absorbing and storing carbon. Mangroves are spectacular. 

Sharks are some of the most misrepresented creatures. They have a tarnished image in people's minds because of their portrayal in the media, particularly in scary movies. Many people, even those who have never seen one or live far away from the ocean, fear sharks.