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Bermuda Turtle Project Celebrating 50 YearsThursday, April 05, 2018
The Bermuda Turtle Project [BTP] said they are “excited to be kicking-off our 50th celebrations in conjunction with the Bermuda Post Office release of a First Day Cover stamp issue featuring sea turtles of Bermuda and our 50 years of work.”
‘Whale Found Distressed With Entanglement’
Wednesday, April 04, 2018
On Monday [April 2], a local vessel reported a “migrating whale found distressed with entanglement in rope or wire” and it was concluded that Bermuda at this time, “lacked the necessary specialist equipment to assist the whale.”
Video: Family Films Hammerhead Shark
Wednesday, April 04, 2018
A family said they found themselves privy to a rare sight as they paddle boarded close to Flatts Inlet recently, as a shark made a surprisingly close approach that they were able to catch on video, which went viral after being posted on social media.
A Team Tackles a Troublesome Fish
Thursday, March 15, 2018
It is often said that good things come in groups of three, and that might be the case for a trio of research projects aimed at reducing a recent, but growing, threat to Bermuda’s marine biodiversity: the invasive lionfish.
Photos: BZS Participants Get Their ‘Zoom’ On
Thursday, March 15, 2018
This past Sunday, 11th March, over 450 fundraisers biked, ran, walked, paddle boarded and rowed in the Bermuda Zoological Society’s [BZS] annual Zoom Around the Sound race.
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Latest News
All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
By Sarah Lagan
Published Nov 16, 2014 at 1:25 pm (Updated Nov 17, 2014 at 12:06 am)
Dr Neil Burnie's funeral at Western Blue Cut (Photo by Sarah Lagan)
Dr Neil Burnie has been laid to rest, with his body placed in the water 600 fathoms deep at Western Blue Cut yesterday afternoon.
More than 100 boats gathered too see the much loved veterinarian and ocean activist “return to the sea”.
A plane circled the sea burial, dropping streams of flowers into the water as mourners threw wreaths and bouquets of flowers overboard.
The Burnie funeral procession to Dockyard (Photo by Sarah Lagan)
Boat horns sounded in celebration of his life and his friends from the Ocean Vet team hurled his trusted harmonica into the sea to great applause.
Taking off from Albuoys Point just after 10am, the procession made its way to Grays Bridge for a ceremony. Opening with bagpipes by Davey Armstrong, Dr Burnie’s brother, Jonathan, took to the microphone aboard The Explorer where the coffin lay.
Burnie’s boat with shark logo and Ocean Vet team (Photo by Sarah Lagan)
He described their family life and Dr Burnie’s love of animals from a very early age, leading him into a prestigious career as a veterinarian. He described his brother as a master fisherman, a musician, an actor, doctor and motorbike enthusiast. “That’s where his need for speed came from,” he said.
Dr Burnie’s son, Oscar Deuss, spoke of Neil as “a father, role model, mentor, best friend and my hero”.
He said the time they spent filming the Ocean Vet series with Dr Burnie at the helm was the one of the best experiences of his life.
Graham Pewter, a band member with Bones, for whom Dr Burnie sang and played saxophone, recalled how Dr Burnie once told him he was difficult to live with. But Mr Pewter said: “It will be more difficult to live without him.”
He described Dr Burnie’s best characteristics. “He was brutally honest, fearless, demanding, abrasive, an irresistible force,” he said. “Bye bye, my blues brother.”
Dr Burnie’s sister, Judith Sweetman, was officiating for her brother and recalled his mischievous nature and love of nature.
The procession made its way to Western Blue Cut, a favourite snorkel spot for the family, then a plane flew overhead and rained down flowers on the burial site.
Dr Neil Burnie leaves his wife Katrin, children Oscar and Kim and siblings Jonathan and Judith.