Vaquita

Science, Politics, and Crime in the Sea of Cortez

By: Brooke Bessesen, Carl Safina - foreword

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

In 2006, vaquita, a diminutive porpoise making its home in the Upper Gulf of California, inherited the dubious title of world's most endangered marine mammal. Nicknamed “panda of the sea” for their small size and beguiling facial markings, vaquitas have been in decline for decades, dying by the hundreds in gill nets intended for commercially valuable fish, as well as for an endangered fish called totoaba. When international crime cartels discovered a lucrative trade in the swim bladders of totoaba, illegal gillnetting went rampant, and now the lives of the few remaining vaquitas hang in the balance.  

Author Brooke Bessesen takes us on a journey to Mexico's Upper Gulf region to uncover the story. She interviewed townspeople, fishermen, scientists, and activists, teasing apart a complex story filled with villains and heroes, a story whose outcome is unclear. 

When diplomatic and political efforts to save the little porpoise failed, Bessesen followed a team of veterinary experts in a binational effort to capture the last remaining vaquitas and breed them in captivity - the best hope for their survival. 

In this fast-paced, soul-searing tale, she learned there are no easy answers when extinction is profitable. Whether the rescue attempt succeeds or fails, the world must ask itself hard questions. When vaquita and the totoaba are gone, the black market will turn to the next vulnerable species. What will we do then?

©2018 Brooke Bessesen (P)2018 Tantor

AN IMPORTANT BOOK!!

This is an important book---well-written, comprehensive and a significant touchstone for all who care about the planet and its preservation.
Dick

Beyond beautiful

The beauty and anguish contained between the covers of this book and portrayed so well by its author, and narrated with such perfect emotion by the performer have left me breathless. I want to get a copy of this book to every single person that I know. This story needs to be known and understood. And each one of us is individual‘s needs to think about the very small things that we can do as we source our food and feed our families. These small acts are how great change is made.

Excellent book

If only every American were to listen, learn and then advocate for the protection of endangered species. Excellently written and narrated.

Beautifully done

A heartbreaking story, wonderfully written and narrated. Highly recommend for all ocean mammal loving advocates!

great book

Although the reader was quite melodramatic, the story was fantastic. I have now listened to this book twice in would recommend to anyone interested in conservation

Compelling

I have been following the complicated story Vaquita for a few years now. It was only after looking into the species from a brief mention in a magazine that I couldn’t believe that I’d never heard of this amazing animal, and I’m a Zoo keeper. The story is a complex one involving so many factors good and bad. I urge any young person with an interest in conservation to read this as it could be a story for so many creatures in the future if we don’t keep the balance of nature and human activity.
It is also beautifully narrated.
The more people read this the better understanding they will have for the importance of a balance in nature.

Essential listening

This is a very sad story, but absolutely riveting listening. Intelligently and skilfully narrated. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of conservation issues.