Die Bucht von Chwaka, Sansibar | Mal Meer, mal Land | ARTE Family

Living between

land

and sea is a constant challenge: imagine waking up to freezing water, then spending the afternoon completely dry under the scorching sun and starting the afternoon under a tsunami at the rhythm of the tides: we are immersed in the storm. The life of these mini-heroes who have to challenge the indomitable forces of the ocean four times a day to survive on the shores of the Zanzibar archipelago, you have to be cheeky, wear extravagant clothes or, on the contrary, be able to do Become invisible, welcome to the merciless world of the small inhabitants of the Zanzibar coast, our heroes of the story act in a breathtaking setting.

This gigantic bay, bordered by a mangrove forest and separated from the open sea by a large reef. S

chwaka

Bay, the coast on the eastern side of the is

land

of Zanzibar in Tanzania, which lives to the rhythm of the tides of the Indian Ocean. The high tide floods the water 4 meters high from the bay to the mangroves near Apple, the great The sandbanks that now make up the landscape force the inhabitants to flee to certain areas. The biggest flood of the year is imminent, so many areas that are normally underwater will soon dry out. How will the small inhabitants of S

chwaka

resist this phenomenon of extraordinary proportions? ?

The force of the tides obeys the movement of the stars when the moon and the sun are on the same axis as the Earth. Their combined attraction increases the force of the sea. The tide this morning is the largest of the year. a single sandbank as well as a single islet, a refuge for numerous seabirds. The sea, which is already retreating, offers the different species of plovers a little more space before their hunting party, a few meters from the birds, an event special is about to happen Hundreds of babies will soon be born in a thick layer of sand.

As soon as green sea turtles leave their nest, they only know one goal: to get to the ocean as quickly as possible. To complete the marathon and save precious energy, let them carry the flood on the mainland. They are extremely vulnerable, but post-cyclers don't always take the shortest route. This one got lost in the mangrove. The flooded forest is a strange world. It is difficult for young turtles to find their way to the sea in this maze of mangrove trunks and roots and yet many marine animals thrive in this refuge where they are protected from the currents of the open sea by the flooded forest. like this young barracuda they stock up on many nutrients here before returning to the open sea.

When the turtle swims out, it is lagging behind the outgoing water. At this time the water in the mangrove is still high, but. will not stay that way The chances of reaching your destination safely decrease as quickly as the water leaves the mangrove forest, this strange jumping fish is an indispensable part of the mangrove jumper from the goby

family

that spends most of its time in the air. - something unusual for a fish - has found a solution to survive in this environment where the water has little oxygen in order to obtain as much as possible.

In order to absorb the vital gas, it extracts it from the air by breathing through the skin. When the sea leaves the mangrove, the grasshopper has to follow the ebb. Without constant humidity, it would die. Far from these mounds, the colobus monkeys of Zanzibar barely wake up. The monkeys prune the trees and. Distribute mangrove seeds. They are an indispensable part of the Schwaka riverside region. Thanks to them, the mangrove develops well and can play its role as a protective barrier against incoming waves and coastal erosion. At the edge of the mangrove The coastal people make sure that the water level drops so they can go hunting.

Little by little the water leaves the upper part of the shore. In one hour the sea recedes 150 m and the mangrove dries completely. The roots of the mangroves are now exposed with help. With their hollow, breathable roots pointing towards the sky, trees can accumulate valuable oxygen reserves and thus fight against suffocation in the event of floods. In the depths of the forest you can see the drop in water level with the naked eye. . Too late for the little turtle (he has not managed to reach the drainage water), the mudskippers hide in the wet mud to survive for six long hours without water.

While a part of the fauna prepares for the absence of the sea. The hitherto visible world appears. The fiddler crab, which had entered its cave through boiling, can now, like all its companions, free itself from the mud capsule that had sealed its burrow and only has a few hours to feed and collect everything. The organic material left in the sand after the sea receded, which barely measures 3 cm, is of great importance for the coast because most of the cleaning and aeration of the mangrove soil is carried out at each low tide. guaranteed by their loyal cooperation, but does not go so far as to forget about mating.

To the rhythm of their dances, the violinists start a great party. Males wave their abnormally large, developed scissors and hope to attract mates. near their cave to show their talent as builders. The largest individuals strive to impress their rivals. Now the best thing is to win at Schwaker

bucht

, the sea is approaching rest, the tide is low and little by little the large sandbanks. They appear and the residents have to prepare for a critical phase in which there is a lack of water and temperatures rise dangerously but other dangers threaten the animals on the upper shore. Now is also the time for hunters of fish and mollusks caught by the tide.

In the pools you will have to escape from the powerful spikes and air attacks. All the seabirds are on the hunt. For the coastal heron, the water level is ideal, high enough that the fish can still swim. precision The turtle has managed to get out of the mangrove but on the sandbanks the slightest movement requires enormous energy and the predators only wait for a moment of weakness between the birds and the crabs, the small turtle is in constant danger while the ghost crab with horns rubs her claws on her shell, she indicates that this is her territory, she lives in a wide network of tunnels that she digs herself and the coming and going of the ocean does not make this job easier, she regularly causes the walls of her cave to collapse At each low tide you have to start again, you can do this until the order of digging at 2 m depth should be level, but if the sand surface reaches 50 ° CS, then there is no more than 30 ° in your burrow.

As soon as the sea recedes, the sandbanks fill with ghost crabs that run along the beach in search of food. The turtle moves across rented land. This mud-jumper has ventured too far onto the shore. Without water, he is on the verge of death. At the mercy of everything to a large opportunist, carcasses, worms, clams and even some of its own kind in its path, the horned ghost crab collects it all. It's not about leaving a grasshopper sitting in the water because of the tides, but. So many finds inevitably awaken desires and the lucky one will be one.

They will have to sacrifice part of their prey to run to their cave with their most beautiful catch and surround them. Ducks move at breakneck speeds of up to 2 m. per second, hence its name ghost crab. Deep in its cave the prey is safe and woe betide anyone who tramples it! Around its entrance the hours pass and the sunlight becomes increasingly stronger as the water moves away from the shore and the outside temperature reaches. 40° Celsus a critical moment for the turtle, its dark shell stores heat and causes the temperature inside to rise dangerously without the refreshing pools that it would be.

It is impossible for him to continue on his way. Halfway through the trip he is already mobilizing it. The last reserves The vast sandy areas that are 3 m underwater at high tide now look desolate. One of the most dangerous animals has been surprised by water drainage. Most fish die if they are not given water. oxygen and are not exposed to heat, but the thick layer of mucus that covers the stonefish's skin allows it to stay moist. This fish is the most poisonous in the world. On their back are hidden 13 long poisonous spines that are capable of.

By destroying his opponents in a fraction and paralyzing his body for a second by putting it to sleep, he can survive outdoors for almost 24 hours, longer than necessary to last until the next high tide. The rivers that meander through the mangroves. They also shape the bottom of the bay with their course. The turtle can finally benefit from the flow of the tides and move effortlessly. An easy trip to the sea in the heart of the bay. Seagrass meadows appear on the surface of the water. , which is now almost at its lowest level. Oxygen and food are becoming less and less.

Numerous coastal fish hide in the large nets that never dry out completely when the water is low, saving a little time while waiting. To be freed from the sea, at the foot of the seagrass plants that make up these flowering underwater meadows, young animals gather and gain strength. These young captain parrotfish are born under the cover of dense vegetation and remain in the large breeding area. A few more months before venturing to the reef or the high seas. Seagrass meadows collect nutrient-rich sediment, clean the water and protect fish from the power of the waves. They finally have a well-deserved first meal. eggs and larvae on the surface of the plants to satisfy the hunger of the small carnivore.

When the green turtle reaches adulthood it will change its way of eating and will be mainly herbivorous. You can then eat for up to 3 hours. at a time and up to 50 m deep diving without taking in oxygen to graze on seagrass beds with their fins extended, the Pacific lionfish slides through the vegetation to surprise its prey. This glutton is not afraid of the coming and going of the tides. It can hunt as close to the surface as it can at depths of up to 50 m. In principle, the turtle has nothing to fear from the fearsome predatory fish with its long poisonous spines;

It prefers fish and small crustaceans, but it is better. Not to be entertained. Six hours have passed since the water began to drain. The beaches and sands of the lagoon are already dry, the remaining water is enough for everyone to keep living beings alive, which now await the calmest phase, the time when. the flow shown stops at noon, the ultraviolet radiation is particularly intense, forcing sea urchins to protect themselves, they extend their long legs with suction discs to get closer to the plants and finding a little shade is a matter of life and death In this stifling place where oxygen runs out quickly, the temperature rises alarmingly like sea urchins, the decorator crab finds it difficult to withstand the extreme conditions that prevail in its tide pools, so it goes out in search of a place that is better.

Protected from the scorching sun thanks to the small curved hairs on its shell, it adorns itself with algae, some of which are poisonous, but also with small animals, in this way it can discreetly integrate into its environment and avoid its predators. The place where the crab thinks he can cool off a little is already occupied, the tension is increasing. After the fight, the loser has to decide to seek shade elsewhere. On the other side of the reef, another fight is raging between them. the elements, attracted by the movement of the stars, the sea is set in motion again thanks to the extraordinary power of the tides, millions of cubic meters of water move at a speed of 15 m per minute, waves are created that break violently in The reef, this environment that never drains the tides, creates other challenges in the face of the onslaught of the sea.

In order to face the sea, the reef inhabitants have developed incredible strategies. The perfectly adapted bodies of soft corals or sea anemones bend without ever breaking. Carried by the current, which is at the beginning of the entire food chain, they enter and the reef animals leave little by little. After their hiding place, the hunters are ready and lie in wait. They remain motionless and camouflaged and will soon be able to benefit from the situation. Some have even adapted their hunting strategy to the strong currents. The leaffish grabs a seaweed cradled by the surf and simply waits for small fish to pass by to catch it;

The stonefish goes hunting thanks to the algae and the remains of coral attached to it. the slime on its skin is almost invisible giant moray with brown cheeks and flat head when the water rises the merciless world of the reef awakens higher up on the shore returning from the water entering the lagoon from the open sea Back to the seagrasses, The toad that during the current break facilitated its progress towards the reef now has to swim against the current and finally reaches the lagoon where the oxygen and nutrients transported by the tide cause an explosion of life.

Also upon the return of predators, catfish quickly dig in the sand to locate worms and small crustaceans thanks to their barbels, which they use to touch and smell. They always move in groups and take turns forming dense, mobile formations. These fish confuse their attackers. They can't isolate a fish to chase it. In theseagrasses, the razorfish relies on its ability to camouflage itself. Its completely synchronized head-down movement is unique in the world. It plays its game directly at the bottom of the body of the big fish. From the sandy bottom of the lagoon it is impossible to distinguish between sometimes invisible and sometimes attractive.

The big fish follows the strategy that best suits its prey. The crab experiences an extremely complex and useless attack. . fighting the force of the tentacles is phenomenal the crab is literally pressed against the beak of the siaxe the color and texture of the skin the sow has suddenly changed the growths that have just appeared on its back indicate to intruders on its territory how dangerous which is the great sebbje is a relentless hunter depending on the environment in which the colored skin cells the chromatophores expand or contract and give the animal a different color after having broken the shell with its beak, it sucks deeply inside the crab such as Ookopus and squid have developed learning and memory abilities that make them the most intelligent among invertebrates.

The emerging water flows and now floods the At the top of the shore, the reer hunt is over. sit in the mangrove The horned spirits collect something here and there in the open air before locking themselves in for 6 hours. Like the fiddler crab in the mangrove, the flood phase begins again as some hide, others return. surface for the mud jumpers is the salvation a little further down the lagoon the young turtle that left the mangrove almost 12 hours ago has never been so close to its destination, it only needs to be a few meters to the reef of the last barrier before from the open sea.

At this point the mass of plankton brought by the tide has reached its maximum. To benefit from this influx of food, sea anemones deploy their poisonous tentacles, but that is risky. The fish lie down like stalkers. The sea anemones have made alliances so that their tentacles are not eaten. They house clown fish that are able to defend themselves from attackers. In return, the clumsy fish that are immune to the poison of their host use the sea anemones as This crab's poisonous shield, on the other hand, the sea anemone doesn't actually need one. To do a service to benefit from his protection, his visit is tolerated.

The movements of the tentacles increase water flow and excavate nutrients into the spotted porcelain crab, you just need to use. The highly developed silk threads at the ends of its mouthparts allow it to house billions of larvae and tiny filter-feeding animals that make up the plankton Parasitism Symbiosis Mutualism The permanent or sporadic relationships and alliances, more or less close, between species on these coasts They often have vital strategies Some are even invisible Microalgae are hidden in the Quran polyps that are responsible for the formation of the Quran skeleton and provide essential energy among residents without a strong alliance, some gather to watch together.

Loners like this boxfish have developed a different strategy to evade their enemies. They demonstrate the toxicity of their slime by displaying bright colors and are protected by color coding. They can do it quietly by collecting algae and tiny mollusk sponges and small crustaceans that the tides have deposited, just like this small yellow boxfish that the Pacific lionfish has. He felt the water level rise and left the bottom to hunt on the reef practicing the prey that has come to join. To feed, the flood comes to it at the right time, protected by its 18 poisonous spines, it is almost invincible to the mantis. shrimp, the hunt that begins now is always an event, its independent eyes are among the most developed in the animal world and allow it not to miss any of the action, color, location, distance, everything is much more detailed than with the human. eye the lionfish freezes thanks to the growths around its mouth it imitates the movement of the algae causing a strong negative pressure the hunter literally sucks a stinger out of its prey and the groupers are the few enemies of this deadly fish that they lack growing number of lionfish On this reef, the world is out of balance.

The turtle has managed to overcome the last rock barrier of the reef. Before her an ocean stretches immeasurably. Their future habitat faces even greater dangers. Now they are waiting for them in the open sea. Only one in every thousand small green sea turtles survives to adulthood. If it survives this unforgiving world, the turtle will use the underwater biological corridors to return to the beach where it was born and lay its eggs, thus taking. their place in the same life cycle 12 hours have passed on the coast and the water level on the Schwaker coast has once again reached its peak and the surrounding mangrove forest is completely flooded.

At the end of the day, another chapter in the cycle of life. The tide begins and the entire bay joins the eternal new beginning, day, night, low tide or flood, nothing can stop life on the shores.