let’s hear it for the world’s smallest whale (the vaquita) you guys!!
Vaquitas are indeed the world’s smallest cetacean! But this individual appears to be a calf. It still has “fetal folds”—those linear marks on its side—from being curled up in its mother’s womb. This is how large an adult is compared to a human:
ALT
Tragically, vaquitas are also the most endangered cetacean in the world. Irresponsible fishery practices have reduced their numbers to approximately 10 individuals in 2024.
You can learn more about vaquitas and how to help them at VaquitaCPR.
Saw a sibling poll and needed to expand it because I fit, like. Mid youngest, youngest in theory only child in practice, and adopted. And I think they all have their own unique parts in the sibling ecosystem.
that depends on what that species is, and im struggling to come up with any catch-all response to that. there are a lot types of animals.
some stuff is way beyond our control, like the invasion of earthworms into North America and many other invertebrate species—it would be just as much of a waste of effort trying to kill all the spotted lanternflies as it would be to dig up every worm in the forest.
for stuff like fish, cats, and hogs… I really don’t know. this isn’t my area of expertise but I do think invasive mammals are at least a little easier to exclude/control/manage through hunting and trapping than minute flying or soil borne invertebrates (maybe not the hogs. they sound unstoppable). also people tend to get very stupid when it concerns charismatic or domesticated megafauna, even if vulnerable native ecology is at stake.
in all cases, prevention is most important: don’t let pets loose, make note of unfamiliar insects or help to track the spread of establishing species.
I also think it is important to not demonize or abuse the invasive animals regardless of what we need to do to control them. they’re not evil, they’re just trying to survive—torturing them doesn’t accomplish anything. so even if cane toads and cats and horses have to be killed to protect native ecosystems, we ought to find ways to do that that both have the intended effect and don’t cause unnecessary harm.
also, please no “humans are the invasive species” thing. I will hit you with my ecologist stick
ALT
ALT
