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The Vanishing Dragon (2005) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre Duration Format Broadcaster Distributor DVD status Awards |
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| Leafy Sea Dragon DVD Seahorse DVD Synopsis - The Vanishing Dragon is a wildlife documentary based on perhaps the most camouflaged of all ocean fish, the leafy sea dragon. Shot mostly in South Australia, the documentary reveals exclusive footage of the sea dragons in their natural habitat. Feeding, courting dances, breeding and reproduction, including footage of a male leafy sea dragon as he gives birth in the wild, are just some areas covered in this epic tale. Not much has been recorded about these mysterious creatures, but as the documentary evolves, more and more secrets are reavealed.
The Story The documentary begins at a location where leafy sea dragons are always found, Rapid Bay Jetty situated along the Fleuieu Peninsula in South Australia. Carey Harmer is a master dive instructor and has recorded over 500 dives at this location while introducing international tourists to the species. His knowledge of the dragons living under Rapid Bay Jetty is phenomenal. He has followed 30 breeding pairs and a further 15 individual leafy sea dragons, having names for each. Carey introduces us to his favourite sea dragons, as well as their younger generations. The camouflage of these creatures is extraordinary. You can go for dives without seeing one. But somehow, Carey is able to find them quite easily. He lets us in on his secrets on finding them and also tells us how he is able to distinguish one leafy sea dragon from another; the white markings on their face and snout, are just like finger prints. |
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| A leafy sea dragon | A photographer taking a photo of a weedy sea dragon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By taking photos and recording the sightings of leafy sea dragons in the wild, an organisation called "Dragon Search" has been conducted. With an office set up in each state in Australia, "Dragon Search" relies on Scuba Divers to report, when they spot a leafy sea dragon in the wild. The organisation then gathers all the information necessary in an attempt to keep track of the number of sea dragons in Australian waters. The weedy sea dragon (pictured above right) is cousin of the leafy sea dragon and is far more common. Along with seahorses and pipefish, the two species of sea dragon belong to the family sygnathidae. Tracy Warland breeds sea horses for a living and has a special interest in the sygnathidae family. She talks about body movement, protection against predators, feeding and how each member of the sygnathidae family is able to camouflage so elegantly in the wild. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A pair of leafy sea dragons | Eggs in the male's tail - leafy sea dragon | The courting dance - leafy sea dragons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Between October and February every year, male and female leafy sea dragons come together with the aim to breed. Unlike most creatures of the world, however, it's the male leafy sea dragon that has the extraordinary role in reproduction. It's the male that actually carries the eggs and eventually gives birth to the young. The pair of sea dragons move together in perfect unison, keeping a very close eye on the other, in a ritual that can continue up to weeks at a time. The female develops around 250 eggs in her lower abdominal cavity and she will eventually transfer these eggs onto the male's tail. After this process is completed, the parenting role for the female is done and she will no longer have any part in the birth of her young. But for the male, the next eight weeks of incubation is a tough journey. The eggs under his tail are not so easily camouflaged. His time will be spent hidden deep within the kelp forests of the ocean, protecting his young relentlessly from predators. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Leafy sea dragon in Aquarium | 1 and a half week old weedy sea dragons | 6 week old weedy sea dragon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unfortunately, only 5% of every fathers litter, will survive to reach maturity of 2 years of age. Such statistics as these, differ greatly however, if raised in the safety of an aquarium. Based in Victoria, Australia, there is one man in the world who has independently been successful at rearing both species of sea dragon. His name is Pang Quong and he has been collecting both species of sea dragon for over 10 years. He captures a male with eggs from the wild and raises the young until they are 6 weeks of age when he will then distribute them to public aquariums all around the world. Tourists are so attracted to this marine creature, that the amount of visitors aquariums attract is quite phenomenal. And if its not tourists visiting the stunning creatures in aquariums, then its scuba divers from all over the world, making the trip to the southern waters of Australia, attempting to find the camouflaged leafy sea dragon in the wild. But although fascinated by the stunning creatures, it is somehow fitting, that humans are actually the biggest threat to the species. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Seagrass | Thousands of hectares gone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The seagrass loss along the southern coastline of Australia and home to the leafy sea dragon, is astounding. What used to be thousands of hectares of lush green sea grass, is now nothing more but a dead and empty sea bottom. Interestingly, most of this loss has been recorded within 2 kilometres from shore. The reason? Effluent disposal and stormwater run off. Alex Gianuzzi is a marine biologist teaching at the Marine Discovery Centre in Melbourne. She explains the importance of the leafy sea dragon's habitat and also how vital it is that we educate children on preserving their habitat. The documentary closes with all of our talent having a say as to how important the sea grass is in regards to the survival of the leafy sea dragon. If we don't change ways, all we once knew, will be lost.
Making the documentary "The Vanishing Dragon took over a year to completely research and write. Little has been recorded about these creatures and even the relevant scientists know little about them. The only way to properly research them was to study their behaviour in their own environment. |
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| Cinematographer, Brenton Dean, taking a photo of a male with eggs | Writer, Carly Maple, photographing a female under Rapid Bay Jetty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The leafy sea dragon documentary reveals information which has never been recorded before. For example, the incubation period... it was believed that leafy sea dragons took only 4-6 weeks to hatch the eggs. But this isn't the case. The male carries the eggs for a period of about 7-8 weeks, and as the eggs begin to turn a ripe purple, he drops them all in a 24-48 hour period. But the eggs don't just drop off, he aids in the babies hatching by shaking his tail, causing the eggs to jiggle. Also, he rubs his tail gently against seaweed and rocks as an aid in dislodging them. Such information as this, has been corrected and the documentary is full with new information and footage. Cinematographer Brenton Dean spent summer after summer under Rapid Bay Jetty attempting to capture the breeding and the egg transfer in the wild. He has been following one pregnant male leafy sea dragon in particular over the eight week course of incubation. This is the only recording ever, of a male leafy sea dragon giving birth in the wild.
Technical Aspects and Distribution "The Vanishing Dragon" was filmed and finished on 16:9 (widescreen) SDTV. The documentary was then edited using Final Cut Pro HD software. Once completed, the end product was then transferred to a post audio production suite where underwater atmos tracks, relevant music, and setting of audio tracks was amended. The Channel Nine Network of Australia has purchased the free to air rights in Australia to air the program three times over the next three years. Abyss Picutres Pty Ltd is currently negotiating with National Geographic Television International about distribution to other countries. |
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flower growing tips Counter © 2007 Abyss Pictures Pty/Ltd. All rights reserved. |
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