Recent News
Report oil spills to help protect wildlifeWednesday, September 30, 2015
Environmentalists have urged the public to report marine oil spills as quickly as possible to prevent them causing serious damage to the Island’s wildlife.
Zoo welcomes two new residents
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
The duo, both 6 years old, spent a month in quarantine in Bermuda before they were released into their new home.
Bat is nursed back to health with Gatorade
Friday, September 18, 2015
A stricken bat was nursed back to health by zoo staff after it was found on a construction site.
‘Ocean Vet’ captures Burnie’s spirit
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
The Ocean Vet series due to hit some of the world’s top networks next year is “just the beginning” according to the show’s Choy Aming.
Regiment joins forces with conservation effort
Saturday, September 05, 2015
The Royal Bermuda Regiment Underwater Taskforce has joined forces with environmentalists for a marine conservation effort to map the reefs off Elbow Beach.
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All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
An entire flotilla of boats departed Albuoy’s Point on Sunday morning [Nov 16] as people from around the island made their way out onto the water in order to bid farewell to “Ocean Vet” Dr. Neil Burnie, who was buried at sea.
The well-known veterinarian died following a marine accident on November 11, after getting into difficulty while free diving to recover lobster traps lost during the recent storms.
The family invited everyone to join in the burial service for Dr. Burnie, and the community responded en masse, with what has been estimated to be over 100 boats making their way out to sea to say their final farewell to the local icon.
Click here to see the video.
Dr. Burnie’s body was carried onto the Explorer at Albouy’s Point, after which the flotilla set off to Western Blue Cut.
A service was held on the water, with Dr. Burnie’s sister Judith Sweetman, an ordained Minister, officiating, while Dr. Burnie’s brother Jonathan Burnie also spoke, eulogising his brother.
Dr. Burnie was laid to rest while Davey Armstrong played the bagpipes and Oscar Deuss played the saxophone, with flowers strewn across the water by many in attendance
Some people jumped in the water as Dr. Burnie was laid to rest, with some attendees even free diving down in the ocean to follow him on his final journey. Horns and whistles were heard across the water, and a small plane joined the ceremony by flying overhead.
The funeral programme quoted a song that Dr. Burnie wrote, saying, “The whales and sharks of the ocean, they seem to call to me, though my body is here on dry land, my soul is deep in the sea,” helping to provide a fitting end for a man who dedicated his life to the ocean and the life within it.