ANIMALS

Meet the Captivating Vaquita, One of Earth’s Most Endangered Animals, with Only 10 Individuals Remaining

According to the most recent information, there are only about 10 vaquitas left in their natural habitat. This indicates that we are dangerously close to losing another important species.

“Cocaine of the sea’ threatens critically endangered vaquita – BBC News”

Vaquitas are commonly found in the northern part of the Gulf of California. These animals have been in danger of extinction for a long time. In 1997, their population was around 600, but by 2017, it had dramatically dropped to just 30 individuals.

Sadly, in 2021, the number of vaquitas was recorded at only 10, raising serious concerns about the survival of this species.

The vaquitas, also known by their scientific name Phocoena sinus, are small creatures that reach a length of about 5 feet. When they are fully grown, a vaquita weighs approximately 120 pounds.

These solitary creatures typically live in shallow, warm waters. What sets them apart is that they are the only type of porpoise capable of thriving in warmer temperatures. Other porpoise species require water that is colder than 68°F to survive.

Vaquitas are sometimes referred to as “Sea Pandas” due to the black rings encircling their eyes, which resemble the markings of pandas.

Animals like the white rhino are on the brink of extinction primarily because of poaching. However, vaquitas are not being actively targeted by fishermen.

In Mexico, the main cause of their decline is the traditional fishing methods employed. The use of gill nets to capture totoaba, a fish species also facing endangerment, poses the biggest threat to vaquitas.

Totoabas are highly valued as a delicacy in China, and their price can reach up to $50,000 on the black market. This significant profit has enticed local fishermen to persist in this illegal activity.

Unfortunately, these circumstances also have negative consequences for vaquitas since they often get unintentionally caught in the same fishing methods used for totoabas.

Andrea Crosta, a member of a wildlife trafficking monitoring organization called Earth League International, recently visited Mexico to share alarming news about the critically endangered vaquita population.

According to Crosta, the remaining vaquitas are in imminent danger of being lost due to illegal fishing activities. However, organizations like WWF and Viva Vaquita have suggested that there may still be a possibility to rescue a few of these precious creatures.

In 2017, the conservation organization Vaquita CPR initiated a rescue mission. Regrettably, the attempt to relocate the vaquitas was not successful, as the animals became stressed during the process. Tragically, this rescue project resulted in the loss of many female porpoises shortly after. Some may propose confining the vaquitas instead, but the heartbreaking outcome of the previous rescue effort was deeply distressing.

According to Crosta, it is crucial for us to persist in our efforts to protect vaquitas. Organizations like Elephant Action League and Sea Shepherd are actively involved in monitoring the Gulf of California and uncovering the routes involved in the trafficking of vaquita products to China. Their ongoing work plays a vital role in combating this issue.

“We would definitely bring the guilty to justice even if they kill all the vaquitas!”

It is our collective duty to save the vaquitas. So, why not unite and work together to protect these innocent animals? We welcome your ideas and suggestions in the comments section. Don’t forget to share this article to spread awareness! Together, let’s make a difference and help save the vaquitas!

ANIMALS

Amazing Video of Unseen Ocean Creatures in the Ningaloo Canyons

The Schmidt Ocean Institute recently explored the Ningaloo Canyons on the western coast of Australia using a robotic underwater vehicle called the ROV Sebastian. Check out the amazing video of what they discovered in the deep parts of the Indian Ocean.

More info: Youtube

ANIMALS

These Pics Are Art and the Artists Are Insects

Flying insects move so quickly that they are hard to follow, but new technology and some smart ideas have helped Spanish photographer Xavi Bou do just that. After spending 10 years focusing on birds in flight for his Ornithographies project, he turned his attention to insects.

For Entomographies, he uses high-speed video footage taken by Adrian Smith, an insect expert at North Carolina State University, to study and record how insects move. Bou then picks multiple frames and combines them into single images that show the fast movements of one or more insects through space and time.

With Smith’s help, Bou has captured the aerial tricks of wasps, the jumps of leafhoppers, and the fluttering of butterflies in amazing detail. He hopes that by doing this, he can make people more aware of the decline in important insect populations around the world.

1. Zebra longwing

This butterfly, which is common in many areas of the Americas, really fits its name. It can fly very high with just a few flaps of its large wings.