Save the Bigmouth Buffalo?

I was reading the Free Press Saturday when a notice from Fisheries and Oceans Canada caught my eye in the corner. It contained information about a species of fish that has been categorized as "Special Concern" due to its limited abundance. The fish apparently lives in both the Red and Assiniboine. It is called a Bigmouth Buffalo.

I consider fish to be the best–named thing in the world. Pike. Great name. Sturgeon. Cool name. Walleye. Awesome name. But Bigmouth Buffalo? This may be the greatest named animal or fish of all–time. How I have never heard of it is beyond me. I now officially love the Bigmouth Buffalo. Even better, it is also known as, as most fish are...by another name. That name would be Gourd Head. Fantastic. Clearly this wasn’t dubbed the sexiest fish ever when first discovered.

Stellar name aside, clearly there are some issues with the Bigmouth Buffalo, or lack thereof. The notice told me to go to www.sararegistry.gc.ca for more information, a site I had never been to before. This turned into a fascinating read.

I read 50 pages about things like the comeback of the Sea Otter, that there is something in Canadian waters called a Porbeagle Shark (not doing so well), and that two people have been issued permits for Leatherback Seaturtles. I learned that the Banff hot springs have their own species of snail, and that the list of special concern plants is longer than that of animals. It was quite the read. All because of my new favourite fish, the Bigmouth Buffalo.

You’ve opened my eyes BMB, and I thank you. Read that site if you as well had never heard of the ‘ole Gourd Head, as you will also find countless other animals you’ve yet to hear of and if we’re not careful, never will have the chance.