Sunfish strands in Kenya

This video says about itself:

5 Oct 2012

National Geographic Explorer Tierney Thys, marine biologist and adventurer extraordinaire, is perhaps best known for her work tracking massive 10-foot long, 5,000-pound ocean sunfish, or mola, around the globe. Her research on giant mola has spanned over a decade, and this breezy Northern Californian gives no indication of slowing down anytime soon.

Not only is Tierney a champion for the ocean in the scientific world, but also in the world of theater and dance. Along with fellow ocean advocate, Sylvia Earle, the duo acted as lead science advisers for the performance Okeanos, a multidisciplinary portrait of ocean life through dance.

Tierney conveys an inspiring message of hope, even amidst seemingly constant bad news. “I see incredible hope in the eyes of our children,” says Tierney. She is currently working with National Geographic Student Expeditions to create a summer marine-biology expedition for high-schoolers in Belize.

Her work in the field, in classrooms, and on-line as the Daily Explorer in National Geographic’s Animal Jam, an interactive game for young explorers-in-training, makes Tierney one of our most well-rounded and well-respected Emerging Explorers.

From The Star daily in Kenya:

Kenya: Rare, Huge Fish Found Dead At Shores of Indian Ocean in Malindi

By Alphonce Gari, 3 December 2013

A rare species of fish has been found dead at the shores of Indian Ocean in Malindi Marine National Park. The fish on Sunday evening attracted hundreds of residents and tourists visiting the park.

The fish, which Kenya Wildlife Service officials said is an ocean sunfish, weighed more than 150 kilos with a width and height of five feet. Local fishermen said they have never seen such a fish species in their lives.

Its head resembled that of a dolphin and it swims sideways as opposed to other fish species found in the Indian Ocean. Kenya Wildlife Service senior warden at the park Felix Mwangangi told journalists that the fish was found at 6.30pm.

He said it could have been brought by high ocean currencies from the deep sea. “The ocean sunfish is normally found in the deep sea, it was brought to the shores by ocean currents and may have crashed in the reefs and died as the body had injuries,” Mwangangi said.

He said the fish is not dangerous and is among the most friendly species found in the sea. Mwangangi said it is also one of the biggest species of bone fish found in the ocean.