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Ocean Magazine: Dos Vaquitas

Posted on Feb 1st, 2006

Dos Vaquitas   One small porpoise newborn umbilicated wrinkled from the womb intended for this shallow sea.   Is tossed awkwardly sideways now upside-down by the waves on the reef.   Mother is pulled under and hauled up sliding smashing lifeless unmourned across the deck.   In my arms the child slacks then heaves in violent struggle and vomits white life liquid an ancient response to dying.   Now there are two fewer than before   In this vermilion sea.   -Wallace J. Nichols   for R. and P. Boyer, CEDO, Puerto Penasco, Mexico   The vaquita marina finds its only home on earth in the northernmost waters of the Gulf of California. The vaquita is the world's smallest porpoise; its smooth, pearl-gray body grows to just under five feet long. Vaquita swim in the shallow, murky waters along the shore and the nutrient-rich lagoons of the Colorado River delta. These productive waters also attract whales, sharks, and several types of sea turtles. All of these animals were once so abundant here that Jacques Cousteau named the Gulf of California the

Ocean Magazine, Issue 9, 2006

 

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