Arun’s Adventure with Vera – Saving the Amazing Vaquitas!

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Hi! I’m back, said the Arun. Hello! Said Bubbles glad you are back. Vera, can you please tell us about Vaquitas, requested Bubbles? Sure but why do you want to know about them asked Vera. Well, I saw a paper on the ground and it said that Vaquita’s are critically endangered so I am curious. Hmm, ok some of their physical features but some of them are, they weigh up to 120 pounds or 54 kilograms. It has a darkish ring around its eyes and darkish patches on its lips, that shape a skinny line from its mouth to its pectoral fins, responded Vera.

What about the personality? Asked Ella. The breed of Squid Vaquita can stay alive for up to 240 years. The Vaquita’s name is reflective of their Home range and in Spanish Vaquita means “Little cow.” All white sharks and White whales are predators of the Vaquita. Vaquitas belong to the magnificence of Mammalia. Vaquita’s Devour fish crustaceans. Vaquita’s were first discovered in 1958.

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Vera, what must the Vaquita’s Lifestyle and habitat must be, wondered Bubbles. Well, The Vaquita has the smallest geographical range among all the marine mammals. The Vaquita lives in the northern part of the Gulf on California in Mexico. Vaquita’s are considered solitary. In pairs or up to groups of seven. Vaquitas use echolocation while looking for prey, Answered Vera.

Well how many are left, asked Arun. Vera replied, that in 1997 there were 600 Vaquita’s Then In 2017 it was estimated that a mere thirty Vaquita’s were left in the world. More recent numbers say that the population has dropped drastically, now in 2023 there are no more than 10 Vaquita’s left. What! They must be the most endangered animal in the world, Speculated Ella. Why are they endangered? Asked Bubbles. Well, Unsustainable and illegal fishing practices are the main things that are pushing Vaquitas to extinction. Vaquitas share waters with the totoaba fish and fishing nets unintentionally catch and drown the Vaquitas’s, Responded Vera.

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Vera, what will happen if vaquitas do go extinct? Questioned Arun. Hmm, the extinction of the Vaquita will cause a huge imbalance in the food chain. Vaquita’s are both prey and predator. They are a good source of prey for the white shark and white whale and predators for Benthic fish species. Since they are both prey and predator white sharks and white whales could lose their food and since vaquitas eat benthic species their population could grow a lot.

Oh, Then how can we save the Vaquita? Inquired bubbles. Yes how do we save them, Added Arun. Vera replied, It will take some time to save them but the minor steps that humans can take is, firstly make sustainable choices while buying seafood and avoid Mexican shrimp. Why avoid Mexican shrimp? Asked Arun. When fishing for them There is a chance that Vaquita’s are roaming around in the area and they get stuck in the gillnets and drown. Responded Vera. “Ring ring, Ring ring”, Oh my phone is ringing for one second. Sorry, I have to go back home but I will say this to all my friends I even have some in Mexico. I’ll tell them this. I’m sure that they will protest for this. Bye see you tomorrow, Said Arun. Bye said Vera and bubbles together.

Tags: ##kidsstories, #animal, #arun, #fish, #fishing, #getgreengetgrowing, #gngagritech, #greenstories, #habitat, #lifestyle, #marine, #vera