Marine scientists still baffled by lake filled with millions of jellyfish

Hidden deep in a jungle on an island in southern Palau lies a phenomenon found nowhere else in the world: an isolated lake home to millions of jellyfish that you can safely swim among without being stung. Lee Cowan reports.
#news #palau #jellyfish
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[@hollyosima6271]

Palau, my home island! Im so proud my country is getting so much recognition! Please come and visit! This is only one of the beautiful wonders my island has to offer

[@yve5659]

One of best people I have ever met is from Palau. She was my supervisor when I was in the military and she always told us stories of her island.

[@qmnnvrdyz8965]

It's a Paradise!!

[@sharonmartin5051]

How can people swim where there are crocodiles?

[@hollyosima6271]

@@sharonmartin5051 ive only been there twice..but honesly, the crocodiles wont go after you. We also have many diving spots as well as "Shark City" where u can swim with sharks (:

[@sharonmartin5051]

@@hollyosima6271 Thanks Holly. I live in California, with all the beautiful beaches, but will only go in the water to my ankles. Maybe in a past life I was taken by a water predator ? Or I'm just not too brave. Palau looks absolutely beautiful though. Thanks again.

[@patchez058]

The genuine reaction to the camera man falling into the water was appreciated.

[@obviousness8113]

This style of reporting reminds me of Charles Kuralt. My dad was a big fan of his work. Both Dad and Mr. Kuralt are gone now but I'm old enough to identify great reporting. Great job, Lee Cowan!

[@reconstructionmanifest7349]

Never would I swim in water where there are Crocs. That is insane. Literally. I did enjoy the story. Not calling you crazy. I just wouldnt do it.

[@TonyPhillips24]

The crocs only come out at night, at least in Palau.

[@KoruDesuKa]

I scrolled searching for someone to comment about this, which was my first reaction. Not just crocs, though-saltwater crocodiles, one of the deadliest, most aggressive and territorial animals on the planet. I’d take a swimming pool of great whites over a body of water with a saltwater crocodile population.

[@chasesalii5006]

We eat more crocodile 😂not sure ive heard of anyone getting eaten by a croc and none yet since i grew up in the 90s😂

[@mopthermopther]

Thank you, CBS for a good nature report ❤

[@billrobbins5874]

Jellies amazing creatures. Prefer to admire them completely while out of the water though. 😳🤢

[@christophervillanti1417]

I was there in the 90's, one of my favorite memories of Palau!

[@Revealthereal_]

What did they say about the alligator?

[@elizabethleonard9448]

I was there in the 90' too and am going back this fall !!

[@Reavstone21]

😂 That was funny that the camera guy fell right in.

[@MadroneHumanRights]

I went there and snorkeled with these wonderful jellies, it's pretty amazing, some are so very tiny and cute. They do not sting at all. I think Palau was the most wonderful diving I have ever done in my life. Such a beautiful place. Loved this documentary, you captured the magic perfectly.

[@christineanderson487]

yeh but alligators and crocodiles didnt intimadate you?

[@EikottXD]

@@christineanderson487 there are no alligators and apparently not if they snorkeled.

[@christineanderson487]

@@EikottXD yeh but if you listen to video. they said there are either crocs or gators there

[@EikottXD]

@@christineanderson487 they said saltwater crocodiles no alligators and apparently it did not intimidate them because they still snorkeled.

[@christineanderson487]

@@EikottXD dont salt water crocs still get hungry? i would be terrified if i knew that. think a shark bite would be better than the jaws of a crocodile? idk sounds intimadating to me. The jelly fish stings worry me too. Its lovely to look at but im not going in.Are You?

[@R3ll587]

He said crocodiles and I was out 😆 🤣

[@BorahaeBitch7]

Palau was in my "backyard" and I'll always regret not having visited before relocating. One day I'll return home and take a side trip there. One of my besties' family is from Palau and she told me years ago that the jellyfish are evolving and their stingers are slowing coming back because of all the tourists that are coming to the lake. They're redeveloping their defense mechanisms.

[@jasonnorman3461]

Absolutely beautiful! I would definitely add that to my “background list”.

[@antoinetbd8016]

High 5 to the reporter who got this assignment

[@evilsharkey8954]

I would be willing to bet money the reason they disappeared in 2016 was because of excessive heat. 2016 was a ridiculously hot year in the Pacific. It demolished a lot of coral reefs. The jellies likely survived because of their lifecycle. What we think of as a jellyfish is just the adult stage, or medusa. They also have a polyp stage, where they’re attached to the substrate like an anemone but much smaller. Those polyps can enter a phase called strobilation, where they get longer and produce stacks of baby jelly medusae, called ephyra. Each polyp can produce many ephyrae, which will grow into the adult jellies we recognize. If you want to see something cute and weird, look up jellyfish ephyra. They’re like little, living asterisks.

[@loganking1957]

The locals told me it was because mass amounts of sunblock coming off of tourists, mixed with too many tourists too often

[@tylersoto7465]

There's a start-up company in Israel that's turning the access hundreds of millions of jellyfish into eco-friendly biodegradable diapers, paper towels and tampons etc being more absorbent etc

[@BUTTERCUPJones]

my home my island Palau 🇵🇼 one of the best places to swim.

[@JCNDCIII]

So cool. But no way with crocodiles nearby!

[@RealBradMiller]

This was beautiful and fun!! Glad the cameraman/producer got a good dip!!

[@tialora680]

Thank you CBS for visiting our beautiful Island of Palau 🇵🇼 We hope you visit again soon! 😊

[@TaShaBeNz85]

One of bff’s from childhood was from Palau.. I loved and still cherish her stories of Palau 20+ yrs later.. it’s crazy to hear about it here❤

[@stevenmoylan166]

Palau is about a 2hr flight from Guam. It is serviced by United Airlines which uses Guam as its hub. It is really the only way to get to Palau other than by boat.

[@hollyosima6271]

You can also come to Palau via Manila with United, through Taiwan via China Air or with Air Niugini from Brisbane or Port Moseby (:

[@bechesiyechad8896]

There are several flights open up again service to Palau. United, china airline, Korean Air and a newly flight straight from Australia non stop to Palau.

[@tangojuli209]

As beautiful as it is, by virtue of doing this bit, the instagrammers and wanna be influencers will be booking their tickets before the day is out with all the implications of what happened to Joshua Tree.

[@xbrandi12345x]

This place is so beautiful. I would love to go there for real

[@DavidLS1]

That's nothing, I once went swimming in a lake full of peanut butter fish.

[@rotaman8555]

I’ve been there. I’ve swum the lake. It is amazing!

[@stevenmoomey2115]

In Haymarket, Virginia there were Freshwater Jellyfish, in a Quarry. With all the development, don’t know if they are still there.

[@udonenomee2117]

I just commented above about ours here in Northern Indiana. I was releasing a fish about 15 years ago and I asked my buddy for a light so I could see. When he leaned down and gave me some light I was amazed to see millions swimming in this old gravel pit. I would have been skeptical if I hadn't seen them. A few months later it came up in conversation and that buddy had reported them to the local conservation authority, and he didn't seem surprised at all. I sure was!

[@bechesiyechad8896]

These are rock island where there’s no development in there.

[@EvonneLindiwe]

A quarry? How odd. Wonder how they got there 😊

[@courtneyuherhewar9858]

Palau my native island always beautiful....

[@Grandizer8989]

Been there 2x and loved every minute. Just wear sneakers to make the climb or the rock coral will rip your feet up

[@MB1BUMPER]

Crazy to be swimming in waters w salt crocidiles

[@anthonygumbo2977]

Gets in water with crocs …. 🤦‍♂️ 🤦‍♂️ is anyone paying attention to this ?

[@jonnyfendi2003]

Were they attacked??? No

[@danielbahena4834]

So nobody gonna talk about the jelly fish getting kicked around 🤣 5:38

[@jessicaphillips763]

That was awesome!

[@antm64]

I agree...the sound of this narrative is so similar to Charles Kuralt...very relaxing and informative.

[@joshkabit534]

This island is beautiful and quiet. Last time I went to Palau there is no Fastfood, and the seafood was awesome. I will go back in this island again.

[@bossman5289]

Home sweet home Republic of Palau💞🇵🇼💞

[@skymeadow7762]

That's so cool 🥰

[@g.tauongirmeriil2551]

Thank you for visiting! Come again soon! :D

[@pauldudley8837]

Saltwater crocodiles? Yeah, no, I'm good.

[@naomihatfield3015]

Same, I prefer all my parts attached. Pretty lake, cool experience….for someone else. Hard pass.

[@Mike28625]

I'm interested in the notion that the lake is layered like a cake. That there's an entire skin of pink bacteria holding back an acid layer is bonkers to me. It's like the entire lake is a giant colony creature.

[@davestagner]

You should check out the Great Salt Lake in Utah! It’s the most alien place I’ve ever been. Nothing lives there but bacteria and brine shrimp, that couldn’t live anywhere else.

[@Mike28625]

@@davestagner where I grew up in NV was close to pyramid lake. It's surrounded by large, snowman shaped rock formations that are full of tiny caves. They are the fossils of ancient coral reefs from lake Lahonton that used to fill the entire great basin. Spooky place.

[@thelostone6981]

@@davestagner Hello from Millcreek. Having lived here in Utah for a few decades and having swam in jellyfish lake, I would say jellyfish lake wins hands down. Nothing prepared me for swimming through thousands and thousands of these jellyfish. It was so alien!

[@nellybutton]

i swam with TONS of jellyfish in cape cod!

[@matthewdudael1931]

I wonder what the crocodiles eat , surely not jellyfish

[@spiraldown2710]

Do NOT leave your litter behind! If you’re going to visit please do your very best to keep the >wildlife< you are visiting safe!

[@thorium222]

Can somebody explain to me why they are cool with swimming next to saltwater crocodiles? Why did they just gloss over this?

[@tiffanymcdougal4234]

Yes we have them in the pond at our local park by the fresh water river 😮

[@Kattcreate]

Fascinating

[@catapillargirl2021]

Nope to the crocodiles and bacteria layers but this sounds so beautiful!!!

[@jwilcox4726]

In Alaska the same. Animals are not afraid of humans, the grass eaters, birds, porcupines, etc. because man hasen't hunted them damn near extinction yet in Alaska.

[@Smiley_101]

Keep them they beautiful

[@unchargedpickles6372]

No way I'd home invade salt water crocodiles. They can have whatever lake or river they live in to themselves lol

[@teebee3631]

Absolutely stunning, however, I couldn't help but be reminded of the movie "Sphere." 😬

[@nokia9002]

April 2005 was when we were there on a week scuba diving trip. That lake is so awesome to swim next to them, it is a little hike to up and down the slopes to get there. They ask you so swim gently near them, no trashing around like that guy did. Anyone whom may have the chance to get there, do it.

[@CrAzYxBoBbY]

I’m assuming the island is surrounded by sea? And possibly there was a underwater cave? And jellies fish maybe lived in between sea and lake? And ended up being able to live in the lake? After years and years and years?

[@silkyrobinson5079]

now thats an intelligent comment 🎶

[@dainasworldnumbers88]

Amazing

[@chrism9294]

Yep, lost me at crocodile too. Sounded cool up until then.

[@webapple1]

salt water crocs are the most aggressive and largest types of crocs.... yeah no thanks.

[@Kyankrahn1]

If they completely disappeared in 2016, how did they come back if the lake is isolated?

[@cherylbowen4229]

So interesting! :)

[@krobbins8395]

Very cool, I wonder if it could be what the rain is bring in that might impact their disappearance?

[@savannahm.laurentian1286]

Well, so much for isolated...🤦

[@gdiup9241]

Imagine Jellies with no brain but the important ingredient in a heavily advertised pill for the brain. Boggles my brain, and makes me 😂 when I see the ad.

[@redpandagi]

Awesome

[@omc6650]

Home 🇵🇼 ❤

[@tvviewer4500]

Can’t wait until the influencers start showing up

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

And the caused mounds of trash

[@liamwilson7549]

This is a very cool marine science story.

[@justinbb7467]

His voice sounds like Kermit The Frog. In a good way.

[@martinvera5962]

Wild story very cool.

[@chilloften]

It’s very pretty, I adore nature.

[@thekeith-donovanexperience]

Unique

[@bonitamojica5254]

I wanna go 🖤

[@barbietheemuslimah]

Spongebob will love this 😂😂😂😂😂

[@stevemcglamery5368]

The jelly fish are also found on a lake on Kakaban island in Borneo Indonesia.

[@pmg199]

There are fresh water jelly in a small lake in indiana

[@johnbowden4761]

where?

[@pmg199]

Near New Carlisle indiana but it's a private lake absolutely no public access

[@bobloblaw9679]

the peach blossom jellyfish is freshwater and is invasive across the world. originally from china.

[@sonnyjs15]

Do they sting?

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

😳🤯🥺

[@BlvckHouzWyf_Inc]

Awww the baby jellys ❤….but the crocs ….Nup!!!

[@YouUceireTube]

I cried

[@alissaburge6375]

You can swim with jellyfish in Palau 🇵🇼 and it is fun in the jellyfish lake.

[@jerrywilliams9208]

Scientists still baffled no surprise they haven't been right about anything yet but you got to hand it to them because no matter how many times they have been proven wrong they just keep on guessing maybe someday they'll actually be right about something till then they're quite entertaining the way they try to get you to believe what they say is right then they are proven wrong

[@DavidEdwards9801]

6:36 You lost me at crocodiles lol

[@JonnoPlays]

Humans: must protect the planet The Planet: must destroy the humans

[@KoruDesuKa]

Can’t really argue with either perspective, tho.

[@DC92309]

has anyone told spongebob?

[@truckitwitbox9059]

So nobody is going to talk about the crocodiles that he said was out there ? Everyone’s just gonna gloss over that like we all didn’t hear it? Ain’t no way I’m goin in a lake with CROCS and I ain’t talking about the shoes.

[@Mando_Trucker]

So it's a poisonous lake and they don't know what killed all the jellies? Lol

[@rgruenhaus]

West coast of Chile at mejiliones had so many jellyfish we moved our Navy ship to not suck them into our water intake used for drinking water.

[@LolUGotBusted]

Lake full of marine invertebrates actually tracks pretty well with what we know what lives in water.

[@katiejo1095]

Tomales Bay Calif.

[@fenyoaeemckinney2144]

Wow!👍🏽😁

[@JDiaz143]

Real life Metroids

[@maidmarian38]

Sorry I got distracted by that fabulous eggplant suit! It looks great!

[@aftersexhighfives]

They're harmless and can't sting humans.

[@erukaseven]

I wonder if their breeding cycle calls for periods of time where simply will not be any jellies in the lake for a bit.

[@benmcreynolds8581]

There has to have been underwater cave systems

[@clintlansdell9505]

What about lake Ouachita in Arkansas

[@michelebriere9569]

Who has read "Sphere" by Michael Crichton?

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

I watched the movie and I know what you mean.

[@charleswieand4445]

Lot of lakes in Michigan have jellyfish in them

[@thoughtthinker9300]

In the 1960's off long Island New York in the Great South Bay. We had years when the jellyfish were more populated than this. They were the ones that look like they have 4 eyes. Even if they are actually their sex organs.

[@thoughtthinker9300]

It was like swimming in jelly

[@DigitalNomadsExplore]

Learn more about 🇵🇼Palau: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmqQhXSaobV0nJI

[@EvonneLindiwe]

They are so pretty 😊

[@northerniltree]

The Palau peanut butter fish is one lagoon over.

[@rebeccahiggins2369]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@darronlemell224]

This is what nightmare's are made of

[@devilpupbear09]

CAN I BE IN THE JELLYSPOTTERS NOW?!

[@vice.nor.virtue]

Could anyone tell me what species these were? I think they're moon jellies but I'm not sure

[@FlyySlyyGreen]

He looks like bill nye in that lake 3:57