The beautiful biodiversity of the sea is not just a realm of our imagination; there is deep mystery behind it. It is a world in which every creature contributes through its existence. But some of its inhabitants are now endangered, and the threat of their disappearance has spread across the sea. One of them is the vaquita, an animal that once lived in the gentle shade of an ancient sea but is now in a grave crisis.

The vaquita is known scientifically as Phocoena sinus. It is a small kind of dolphin that lives mainly in a limited area of the Gulf of California in Mexico. It is very small: on average 4 to 5 feet long, with adults weighing about 40 to 55 kg.

It has a white line around its dark round eyes, which gives it a distinctive appearance. Its soft skin, small mouth and gentle behaviour have made it known as a peaceful creature of the sea.

Worldwide, the vaquita is found only in a very limited area of Mexico's Gulf of California, where this rare animal, which lives in the depths of the sea, is often seen. It lives only in the sea of this particular place, and various initiatives are now being taken to save its habitat.

Yet the sea that was its sanctuary only a few years ago has now become a source of danger. The vaquita population today is about 10 to 15, down from several thousand at one time. Looking for the cause, we find growing human activity, especially illegal fishing and the nets used to steal swim bladders, in which vaquitas often become trapped. This is not only part of their struggle to survive but a dangerous threat to marine biodiversity.

The vaquita mainly roams the depths of the sea, where it feeds on small fish and snails. Its way of life is quite calm, but its existence is now in crisis. The Mexican government and international environmental organisations have been working together to conserve it. Through the "Vaquita CPR" project, scientific teams have taken various initiatives to protect vaquitas, but despite this, illegal hunting and ocean pollution are steadily pushing their numbers towards extinction.

Several other steps have also been taken to protect the vaquita. Work is under way through strict law enforcement by the Mexican government to stop poachers' nets, and through international cooperation. But it is clear that there is not much time left. If the world loses the vaquita, this living history of the sea will one day survive only in memory.

The report drew on WWF, NOAA, IWC, MMC and The Ocean Foundation.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.