The last of them

Of 10 vaquitas

This is the story of the smallest dolphin on the planet, the vaquita, that once lived in abundance along the Gulf of California. Living singly, or as a pair, the last of the slow breeding species is counting their days as their kin collapsed, one by one, because of extensive fishing practices. If we were the last beings on the earth, the present feeling would be far more excruciating and indescribable.

Historic image of a Korean tiger, circa 1903. Photo: collected

Tigers of South Korea

The last tiger of the Korean peninsula died out in the first half of the 20^th century. Though they once roamed throughout the area, the famed Manchurian tigers have completely disappeared from South Korea. They were not able to go any further south, thanks to geopolitics. Watch the movie "The Tiger: An Old Hunter's Tale;" though fictional, it is worth to sense what it feels like to be the last individual of your kind.

Iman died of cancer. Photo: Mongabay

Iman, the last rhino of Malaysia

Once found from the Indian Subcontinent to the entire Indo-China, the Sumatran rhino disappeared from one country after another. Malaysia was formally added to the list when its last rhino in captivity, named Iman, died of cancer. Now, the species only resides in Indonesia with less than 100 separated individuals. Living a peaceful and secret life often becomes jeopardised because of human intervention.