Filmmaker Chris Johnson just released his updated Vaquita movie. Watch it here: http://vimeo.com/58132769. This movie is so great for the Vaquita, but it does bring up some points that make me a little nervous about the Vaquita’s survival. The new Vaquita-safe net appears to be the future for the Vaquita, if there is any.
Jimmy Maldonado follow-up
A while ago I said that I would try to research Jimmy Maldonado’s short film “Por Naturaleza.” This is the closest I could come to figuring out what the whole thing is about: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://eldiariodesonora.com.mx/arizona/index.php/premier/premier-general/cine/2597-en-puerto-penasco-exhibiran-cortometrajes&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Por%2BNaturaleza%2522%2Bby%2BJimmy%2BMaldonado%26hl%3Den%26tbo%3Dd%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us&sa=X&ei=LMH5UJiTMOqy0QGYt4DABw&ved=0CGgQ7gEwCQ. It is translated from Spanish, so the English is not perfect. Basically it is one of a bunch of short films that a group of students made. I don’t know where it can be viewed, however.
An A-Z of Weird and Wonderful Wildlife from Around the World
Three things:
First, I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays.
Second, check this article about saving cetaceans from a different perspective.
And third, I was browsing through Google images when I found this really cool Vaquita painting. I clicked on it and I came upon this awesome website called Reuben is My Middle Name. The creator, Daniel Young, has this book, An A-Z of Weird and Wonderful Wildlife from Around the World, which has the Vaquita as V! His illustrations have an Eric Carle feel with tons of mystery and the feeling that you are inside the painting. I love his work.
I have been meaning to post pictures of all of the Vaquita projects/drawings my siblings and I have done in the past year, so look out for those soon!
Monterey County Gives! fundraiser
If you’ve been wanting to donate, now’s a great time! As seen on ¡Viva Vaquita!’s Facebook page, Save the Whales is one of the donation options for Monterey County Gives! 2012’s fundraiser. The money donated to STW will go directly to the Vaquita! Please go to: https://www.montereycountygives.com/Donate.aspx, and under Animals please select Save The Whales and donate ($5 minimum) before December 31! Thank You!
Another great way to donate, especially for the holidays, is with the ¡Viva Vaquita! La Tienda. 100% of proceeds from the wonderful Vaquita items you can buy there goes to our favorite porpoise!
Anita the Vaquita
I am giving out free “Anita the Vaquita” coloring books by ¡Viva Vaquita! and published by OERS. They can be found here in online form, but you obviously cannot color your computer screen. The book is not exactly made for adults (for ages 4-7) but is a great Christmas gift for a little kid. Also, I will also include a Vaquita brochure, also found online (here), but again as a hard copy. This is only available for the first 5 repliers!!! When you reply, I will be able to see your email address, and will be able to email you. We can work it out from there. If it is free, why not get it to help spread word of the Vaquita?
Marine Mammals of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Indentification
A while ago I purchased Marine Mammals of the World: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Identification by Thomas A. Jefferson, Marc A. Webber, and Robert Pitman. It is an outstanding book, probably the best on Earth for Marine Mammals. It even has manatees and Polar Bears! Really the only reason I bought it (yes, I bought it, not my parents) was because of the Vaquita entry. It has great pictures and reliable information, and the best Vaquita illustration I’ve ever seen in a book. I’m not really asking you to buy it, but if you’re into marine mammals, it’s certainly worth every penny. It would also make a great holiday gift.
New look
If you haven’t noticed, I revamped my blog, making it more visually appealing. Please leave a comment letting me know if you like the new look better. Thanks!
Spoon-billed Sandpiper
Please go to Viva Vaquita’s website and go to the Facebook part on the bottom to look at some cool news updates; I might as well just show you the whole site rather than giving you each update separately.
Also, you might know that I am an avid birder (see my birding blog). I have found a “winged Vaquita.” A species of shorebird, called the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, is in as much need for help as the Vaquita. There are only about 200 left (sound familiar?), and are rapidly decreasing. I have taken the responsibilty of creating a new blog, The Spoon-billed Sandpiper World, and it serves the same purpose as V-log: to inform the public about an extremely endangered species. TSBSW is still a work in progress, but please check it out and follow it so you will be able to get all the updates. Thanks so much.
PROFEPA progress
According to vaquita.tv and www.vivavaquita.org, as part of the enforcement
activities from January-August 2012 PROFEPA reports:
– Surveillance: 559 boat
trips and 15 flights
– 135 written inspection reports
– Confiscated 20,390
kg in product, 243 fishing gears, 55 skiffs (pangas)
– 1 person arrested for
poaching (geoduck and totoaba swim bladder)
This is very great news for the Vaquita. Here’s my petition to the President of Mexico, PROFEPA, and SEMARNAT asking to continue with these efforts and some others. Every signature counts!
Vaquita Mountain
I had to create a geographic marvel for my science class in school, so I decided to make mine Vaquita Mountain (based on Rocas Consag).
Check it out here: Vaquita Mountain
V-log 