In the serene coastal town of Llandudno, Wales, a peculiar spectacle unfolded in the summer of 2025, captivating locals and visitors alike. The tranquil shores, typically a haven for sun-seekers and seagulls, became the stage for an extraordinary natural phenomenon: an invasion of giant jellyfish, dubbed "danger pancakes" for their uncanny ability to blend into the sandy landscape. This event, reported vividly by the Daily Star, sparked fascination, fear, and curiosity among beachgoers, prompting questions about the origins, implications, and cultural significance of these alien-like sea creatures. This article delves into the details of this remarkable occurrence, weaving together scientific insights, historical context, cultural reflections, and ecological considerations to paint a comprehensive picture of the jellyfish invasion that gripped the UK’s imagination.

The Discovery: A Morning Stroll Turned Alien Encounter

Joel Gabriel, a 31-year-old engineer and amateur photographer, was on holiday in Llandudno when he stumbled upon a scene that seemed plucked from a science fiction narrative. During an early morning walk along the coast, with the tide receded, he noticed peculiar shapes dotting the shore. At first glance, he mistook the larger ones for rocks, a testament to their seamless integration with the sandy environment. Upon closer inspection, Gabriel realized these were no ordinary beach finds but giant jellyfish, their translucent, gelatinous bodies sprawled across the sand like otherworldly artifacts.

“Seeing the jellyfish and their sizes really surprised me,” Gabriel told NeedToKnow. “They’re 95% water and dehydrate within minutes of washing ashore. They’re basically a digestive system with some tentacles. They don’t have a brain, but they can still sting.” His description of these creatures as “danger pancakes” captured their deceptive appearance—flat, wide, and blending into the sand, yet capable of delivering a painful sting even in death. Gabriel’s photographs, shared widely online, ignited a flurry of reactions, from awe to apprehension, as people grappled with the surreal sight of these marine invaders.

“Very cool, they’re so alien, but this is a major reason I stick to swimming in pools,” one commenter remarked, encapsulating the mix of fascination and fear these creatures evoked.

Understanding the Jellyfish: Biology and Behavior

The Anatomy of a "Danger Pancake"

Jellyfish, belonging to the phylum Cnidaria, are among the ocean’s most ancient inhabitants, with fossil records dating back over 500 million years. Despite their simple structure—lacking brains, hearts, or bones—they are remarkably efficient organisms. As Gabriel noted, jellyfish are composed primarily of water, with their gelatinous bodies serving as both a buoyant framework and a digestive system. Their tentacles, armed with specialized cells called cnidocytes, contain nematocysts that can fire venomous barbs to immobilize prey or deter threats. Even when stranded and deceased, these cells can remain active, posing a risk to unsuspecting beachgoers who might step on or handle them.

The jellyfish found in Llandudno were likely barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo), a species common in UK waters. These creatures can grow to impressive sizes, with some reaching diameters of up to a meter and weighing as much as 35 kilograms. Their dome-shaped bells and thick, frilly oral arms give them a distinctive, almost alien appearance, which likely contributed to the public’s fascination. Dr. Matthew Witt, a lecturer in the natural environment at the University of Exeter, explained, “Jellyfish are an important part of our British wildlife—we see them year-round, but mostly in summer months when warmer waters encourage their proliferation.”

Why Do Jellyfish Wash Ashore?

The mass stranding of jellyfish on Llandudno’s shores is not an isolated event but part of a broader phenomenon known as a jellyfish bloom. These blooms occur when environmental conditions—such as warm water temperatures, abundant food sources like plankton, and favorable currents—align to trigger rapid population growth. Alexandra Bulgakova, a data analyst at the Marine Conservation Society, told the BBC, “Warm waters and abundant food can lead to jellyfish blooms, and if combined with onshore winds, they can find themselves stranded on the shore.”

In 2025, the UK experienced unusually warm summer conditions, with sea temperatures rising due to a marine heatwave. This phenomenon, also observed in June 2025 along Torquay’s beaches, created ideal conditions for jellyfish to thrive. Strong onshore winds likely pushed these buoyant creatures toward the coast, where they became trapped as the tide retreated. The result was a striking visual: dozens of giant jellyfish scattered across the sand, their translucent forms glistening under the morning sun.

Historical Context: Jellyfish Invasions in the UK

The 2025 Llandudno event was not the first time jellyfish have made headlines in the UK. In 2015, dubbed “the year of the jelly” by experts, beaches across Devon and Cornwall faced similar invasions, with swarms of barrel jellyfish nearly forcing closures during peak tourist season. These events underscored the cyclical nature of jellyfish blooms, which have become more frequent and intense in recent decades. Historical records also document significant strandings, such as the 2015 Formby Beach incident, where barrel jellyfish, described as “eerie” and “evil-looking” by photographer Colin Lane, washed ashore in large numbers due to stormy weather.

These recurring invasions highlight the dynamic relationship between jellyfish and their environment. Unlike many marine species, jellyfish thrive in conditions that others find challenging, such as warming oceans and nutrient-rich waters caused by human activities like agricultural runoff. Their resilience has led some scientists to label them as “opportunistic” species, capable of exploiting ecological niches left vacant by overfished or declining marine populations.

Cultural Reflections: Jellyfish in Myth and Media

Jellyfish as Alien Archetypes

The public’s reaction to the Llandudno jellyfish—calling them “alien” and likening them to placentas or extraterrestrial beings—reflects a deep-seated cultural tendency to associate jellyfish with the otherworldly. Their translucent, pulsating forms and lack of discernible features like eyes or limbs evoke a sense of the uncanny, making them natural stand-ins for extraterrestrial life in popular imagination. This association is not new; jellyfish have inspired science fiction narratives for decades, from the menacing “Flotsam and Jetsam” in H.G. Wells’ *The War of the Worlds* to the ethereal creatures in *Avatar*’s Pandora.

In Welsh folklore, the sea has long been a source of mystery and magic, with tales of mermaids, selkies, and otherworldly beings emerging from its depths. The appearance of giant jellyfish on Llandudno’s shores may have resonated with these cultural narratives, amplifying their mystique. One commenter’s quip, “I’m sorry, but that first one looks like a placenta,” underscores the visceral, almost primal reaction these creatures provoke, blurring the line between fascination and revulsion.

Jellyfish in Music and Art

Jellyfish have also left their mark on music and art, serving as metaphors for fluidity, transience, and beauty. The American rock band Jellyfish, active in the early 1990s, drew on the creature’s ethereal qualities to craft their psychedelic pop sound, blending intricate harmonies with a dreamlike aesthetic. Songs like “The King Is Half-Undressed” evoke the weightless, drifting nature of jellyfish, mirroring their movement through the ocean. In visual art, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has incorporated jellyfish-like forms into her polka-dotted installations, using their organic shapes to explore themes of infinity and interconnectedness.

The Llandudno jellyfish, with their “danger pancake” moniker, have already inspired a wave of online creativity, from memes to digital art. This cultural response underscores the power of natural phenomena to capture the public’s imagination, transforming a biological event into a shared moment of wonder and humor.

Ecological Implications: A Sign of Changing Seas

Climate Change and Jellyfish Blooms

The increasing frequency of jellyfish blooms, including the 2025 Llandudno event, raises important questions about the health of our oceans. Climate change, driven by rising global temperatures, is warming coastal waters, creating conditions that favor jellyfish reproduction. Warmer seas not only boost jellyfish metabolism but also extend their breeding season, leading to larger populations. Additionally, overfishing has reduced populations of jellyfish predators, such as sea turtles and certain fish species, allowing jellyfish to proliferate unchecked.

Human activities, such as agricultural runoff and coastal development, further exacerbate the issue by increasing nutrient levels in the water. These nutrients fuel plankton growth, providing a bountiful food source for jellyfish. The 2025 marine heatwave, which affected waters around Devon, Cornwall, and Wales, is a stark reminder of how climate-driven changes can reshape marine ecosystems, often with unexpected consequences.

The Double-Edged Sting: Impacts on Humans and Ecosystems

While jellyfish blooms are a natural phenomenon, they pose challenges for coastal communities. For beachgoers, the risk of stings is a significant concern. The NHS advises that most jellyfish stings in the UK are not serious and can be treated with first aid, such as rinsing the affected area with seawater and removing tentacles with tweezers. However, in rare cases, stings can cause severe reactions, necessitating medical attention. Gabriel’s warning about the “danger pancakes” underscores the need for caution, as even dead jellyfish can deliver painful stings.

For marine ecosystems, jellyfish blooms can disrupt food webs by competing with fish for plankton and preying on fish larvae. In extreme cases, large blooms can clog fishing nets, damage aquaculture operations, and even block power plant cooling systems, as seen in incidents worldwide. However, jellyfish also play a vital role in marine ecosystems, serving as food for species like sea turtles and sunfish and contributing to nutrient cycling as their bodies decompose.

Public Reaction and Safety Measures

The Llandudno jellyfish sparked a range of reactions online, from awe to humor to fear. One commenter confessed, “Christ, I didn’t realise we had jellyfish in the UK and that they can be so big and stingy! Adding this to the list of reasons I’m scared of the sea.” This sentiment reflects a broader unease about the ocean’s mysteries, amplified by the alien-like appearance of the jellyfish. Another user’s playful comparison to a placenta highlights the blend of humor and discomfort these creatures evoke.

To stay safe, experts recommend avoiding contact with stranded jellyfish and swimming calmly away if they are spotted in the water. For those stung, the NHS advises against using vinegar or urine—common myths—and instead recommends seeking medical advice if symptoms persist. Local authorities in Llandudno have since increased signage to warn beachgoers about jellyfish, emphasizing the importance of awareness during bloom seasons.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Jellyfish in UK Waters

As climate change continues to alter marine environments, jellyfish blooms are likely to become more common in UK waters. Scientists are calling for increased monitoring and research to understand these events and their implications. Initiatives like the Marine Conservation Society’s jellyfish sighting program encourage the public to report strandings, helping researchers track population trends and environmental drivers.

Efforts to mitigate blooms may also involve addressing root causes, such as reducing nutrient pollution and protecting jellyfish predators. Public education campaigns can further empower communities to coexist with these enigmatic creatures, appreciating their ecological role while staying safe.

Conclusion: Embracing the Ocean’s Mysteries

The invasion of giant “danger pancakes” on Llandudno’s shores is more than a fleeting spectacle; it is a window into the complex interplay of biology, environment, and culture. These jellyfish, with their alien-like forms and silent resilience, remind us of the ocean’s vastness and unpredictability. They challenge us to confront our fears, marvel at nature’s creativity, and take action to protect our seas. As Joel Gabriel’s photographs continue to circulate, inspiring awe and debate, they underscore the power of the natural world to captivate and connect us, even in its strangest forms.