Pygmy Seahorses Under Threat...

From "over-enthusiastic" divers?

We have a bone to pick with the way this article frames the threat.

A unique species of seahorse in Sabah’s east coast islands are under threat because of the actions of over-enthusiastic divers.

The pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti and H. denise) was discovered at coral reefs at diving havens such as Pulau Sipadan, Mabul, Bohay Dulang and Bodgaya barely five years ago.

Since then, some dive operators have been bringing divers to known sites of these creatures that can blend with sea fans to serve as their habitat.

Enthusiasm to view these creatures has also seen as many as 100 divers congregate on their habitat and use the flash to take their picture which could harm them.

Some divers have also been known to break off the sea fans and move them just to get a better angle for their pictures.

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Sorry, semantics it may be, but divers breaking off sea fans for the sake of a photo op isn't being "over-enthusiastic". That's called being deliberately destructive.

And another thing, folks: artificially manipulating the environment in which you find these little creatures doesn't make the photo "better". Nature occurring naturally is what brings such beauty to a photo.

Please, leave the seahorses where they're found.