52-Hertz
By: Rania Z
Age: 15
Houston, Texas
By: Rania Z
Age: 15
Houston, Texas
In the depths of the Pacific Ocean is a whale who speaks the language of one. Its unique call is at a higher frequency than that of its counterparts. It is unimaginable to find oneself in such a situation, alone, drifting through the dark, muted waters, looking for someone who would understand you. And yet many sympathize with this whale, a lonely individual traveling solo, with essentially no way to communicate with its companions.
The 52-hertz whale, at least to me, represents much more than a scientific anomaly. In a society where individualism set us apart, we feel something akin to this whale, where we are also on our own journey. Read more...We find ourselves as children or adolescents at a time in our lives where we too, call out- and often don't find anything in response. I find the loneliest whale in the world to be fascinating for this very reason. It's almost a reflection of our own human struggles in nature, as if the flora and fauna of the world is reminding us that we are not alone, although it may seem so.
And while you may be saddened by the seemingly unexplainable occurrence of the 52-hertz whale I point out we come from a place of hypocrisy. Countless animals and species have ceased to exist- all as a result of humans. The Thylacine, the Dodo bIrd, the Passenger Pigeon-all extinct. And humans played a salient role in their demise.
So I implore you. I ask you to realize the importance of saving species. We are too oblivious to the struggles of other species simply because they do not affect us. This is not the case. We are fortunate and formidable as a species. We take from the same nature that sustains us and pollute it without a doubt. We ignore the calls of other species and wreck environments for our own ambition.
Like the 52-hertz whale, nature is calling. It has been unheard but still there. We cannot ignore the whale song any longer. As humans we have to take accountability for our desecration and work together to prevent extinction. We have the capability to do wonderful things, and we have the potential to make a difference.
The 52-hertz whale, at least to me, represents much more than a scientific anomaly. In a society where individualism set us apart, we feel something akin to this whale, where we are also on our own journey. Read more...We find ourselves as children or adolescents at a time in our lives where we too, call out- and often don't find anything in response. I find the loneliest whale in the world to be fascinating for this very reason. It's almost a reflection of our own human struggles in nature, as if the flora and fauna of the world is reminding us that we are not alone, although it may seem so.
And while you may be saddened by the seemingly unexplainable occurrence of the 52-hertz whale I point out we come from a place of hypocrisy. Countless animals and species have ceased to exist- all as a result of humans. The Thylacine, the Dodo bIrd, the Passenger Pigeon-all extinct. And humans played a salient role in their demise.
So I implore you. I ask you to realize the importance of saving species. We are too oblivious to the struggles of other species simply because they do not affect us. This is not the case. We are fortunate and formidable as a species. We take from the same nature that sustains us and pollute it without a doubt. We ignore the calls of other species and wreck environments for our own ambition.
Like the 52-hertz whale, nature is calling. It has been unheard but still there. We cannot ignore the whale song any longer. As humans we have to take accountability for our desecration and work together to prevent extinction. We have the capability to do wonderful things, and we have the potential to make a difference.
Bibliography
National Museum of Australia; address=Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula. “Extinction of Thylacine.” National Museum of Australia, National Museum of Australia; c=AU; o=Commonwealth of Australia; Ou=National Museum of Australia, 22 Apr. 2020, www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/extinction-of-thylacine.
Norrington, Bill. “The Loneliest Whale in the World.” UC Geography, geog.ucsb.edu/the-loneliest-whale-in-the-world/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%2052%2DHertz%20Whale%20is,as%20the%20world's%20loneliest%20whale.
Plumer, Brad. “Humans Are Speeding Extinction and Altering the Natural World at an 'Unprecedented' Pace.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/climate/biodiversity-extinction-united-nations.html.
National Museum of Australia; address=Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula. “Extinction of Thylacine.” National Museum of Australia, National Museum of Australia; c=AU; o=Commonwealth of Australia; Ou=National Museum of Australia, 22 Apr. 2020, www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/extinction-of-thylacine.
Norrington, Bill. “The Loneliest Whale in the World.” UC Geography, geog.ucsb.edu/the-loneliest-whale-in-the-world/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%2052%2DHertz%20Whale%20is,as%20the%20world's%20loneliest%20whale.
Plumer, Brad. “Humans Are Speeding Extinction and Altering the Natural World at an 'Unprecedented' Pace.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 May 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/climate/biodiversity-extinction-united-nations.html.
Editor's note:
To learn more about 52-hertz please click on the link below.
The Washington Post
The Loneliest Whale In the World (Article)
To learn more about 52-hertz please click on the link below.
The Washington Post
The Loneliest Whale In the World (Article)