ALIEN INVADERS

WEIRD and WONDERFUL

In September 2016 there was an influx of Portuguese Man of War into Kenmare bay. Up to 75 individuals washed ashore on the beaches at Derrynane. This unusual event subsequently occurred over successive years and may indicate changing weather and ocean current patterns and sea temperature rise. I had contacted Dr. Tom Dolye, a jellyfish expert who came down to me and collected the samples as part of a scientific investigation to determine the best treatment for the stings from these animals. Portuguese Man of War are not jellyfish. They are animals called siphonophores. They consist of colonies of individual but specialised organisms that have a specific function that come together to form the entire animal. Known as blue bottles in the Pacific region they possess a potentially lethal sting. In the subsequent research the best treatment for the stings was found to be vinegar and hot water.  In this film I managed to film one at the surface. It was fresh and still very much alive. You can see it tentacles clearly. The balloon part is filled with gas. Acting like a sail it allows the animal to move through the water.