I Sea Horses! Features the Work of Denise Tackett, the first photographer of namesake “Hippocampus Denise”, the World’s smallest living seahorse!

POINT ROBERTS, WA, August 13, 2004 – www.ISeaHorses.com, an interactive kid’s site, is pleased to feature the brilliant work of photographer Denise Tackett. Denise was the first photographer on-scene at the discovery of the world’s smallest living seahorse!

According to Project Seahorse, “Adults of the new species, a pygmy seahorse to be known as Hippocampus Denise, are typically just 16 mm long -- smaller than most fingernails.”

“Hippocampus Denise” By Denise Tackett

That’s tiny and what a feat it is for a photographer to get a great shot of such a species. “The image above was taken in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, where this seahorse was first discovered in November 1996,” says Denise.

The recently launched I Sea Horses! website includes a new line of collectable plush seahorses & children’s books, a Fun and Games section, and links about seahorses, interesting facts, and conservation information. The new plush product line and educational website was designed to capture the myths and magic of seahorses.

Speaking about her interest in underwater photography, Denise recalls, “As for inspiration, I get it from the tiny seahorses themselves. I've spent so much time with them that I can recognize individuals and each seems to have its own unique personality. I'm absolutely fascinated that they've managed to escape detection for so long, and as we look closer and closer at the coral reef environment, we're finding more and more that we didn't know was there. There are now several more pygmy seahorses that have yet to be identified. It’s fascinating stuff.”

Tackett’s work will be featured on the I Sea Horses! website under Seahorse / Ocean Photos at: www.ISeaHorses.com/Links.htm. Together with her husband, Larry, their work has appeared in magazines worldwide, including National Wildlife, Islands, BBC Wildlife, Asian Diver, Unterwasser, Tauchen, Canadian Wildlife, Popular Science, Sport Diver, National Geographic Kids, and many others.

Wild Heart Ranch and I Sea Horses! are pleased to share with viewers the work of this talented and gifted photographer, and to provide an opportunity to learn more about this new species. “We want to recognize the discoveries of those who delve beneath uncharted waves and uncover new life and things yet unknown!” says I Sea Horses founder Dawn Van Zant.

Children of all ages will love the 6 collectible plush seahorse characters with a nametag & poem based on the original "I Sea Horses!" story (a soon to be a published book). The brightly colored seahorses have bendable tails that wrap around anything - especially your heart! Squeeze their belly and the magical starfish will light up your imagination. Each seahorse comes with a comb for their long, colorful hair.

About I Sea Horses!: www.ISeaHorses.com
Splash Into Our Undersea Magical Adventure!
Collectible plush seahorses and children’s book about a magical heard of wild horses that choose a life in the sea.

About Wild Heart Ranch www.WildHeartRanch.com, www.ISeaHorses.com
Wild Heart Ranch, Inc. is a publishing, entertainment and toy company that creates and licenses non-violent toys and products based on original ideas, stories, and characters. The 'Lucky Stars Collection', 'No More Night Mares' ,'Armadillo Cowboy Club’ & 'I Sea Horses!' brands are all properties of Wild Heart Ranch, Inc.

Jennifer Randle - jenny@wildheartranch.com
Courtney Billinkoff - cbillinkoff@wildheartranch.com
Dawn Van Zant - dawn@wildheartranch.com