Missing Divers, Charles Manson, & the Rarest Fish in the World

The DEEPEST hole, the CUTEST fish.

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***WAYS TO SUPPORT AND GROW OUR MOVEMENT***

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***CREDITS***

Mortician: Caitlin Doughty
Editor & Graphics: Andy Windak

This video was greatly informed by the book "Relicts of a Beautiful Sea: Survival, Extinction, and Conservation in a Desert World" by Christopher Norment. Thank you, Mr. Norment, for your passionate and exhaustive research as well as your insightful storytelling.

***SELECTED SOURCES/ADDITIONAL READING***

Relicts of a Beautiful Sea: Survival, Extinction, and Conservation in a Desert World
Norment, Christopher J. The University of North Carolina Press. Chapel Hill, 2014.

"Devils Hole divers fight to save rare desert fish in Death Valley National Park"

"The Last Dive Into Devil’s Hole."

"Divining Devils Hole: Part 2"

"Rare Fish Hold Up Nevada Desert Resort"

"RECOVERY PLAN FOR THE ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES OF ASH MEADOWS, NEVADA "

"Ash Meadows NWR Fish Conservation Facility"

"The Phenotypic Plasticity of Death Valley's Pupfish"

"DEATH VALLEY FISH DECLARED EXTINCT"

"A little fish that’s mighty as a mountain"

[sleepiestmoth]

"They're just smaller, they're not territorial, they're a little needy, they're just trying to be your friend!" Pupfish are friend shaped confirmed.

[bingoozle]

The tiny pupfish going about their lives in their hole, unaware that giant beings fight passionately for their success, just for the sake of seeing them thrive is so wholesome

[lionelmason]

I worked construction for years with one of the idiots who went swimming in the hole. He was always a disrespectful little jerk and I was totally unsurprised to learn he had disregarded warnings not to interfere with one of the most endangered species on the planet.

[anneboyd]

The pupfish are thriving! A news release dated September 29, 2022 from the National Park Service says that 263 pupfish were recently counted at Devils Hole, the highest autumn count in 19 years. This follows a spring 2022 count of 175 pupfish, the highest spring count in 22 years. (The population normally fluctuates from spring to fall as individual fish only live about 12 months.)

[thatjillgirl]

People who explore underwater caves have a lack of fear that astounds me.

[craiganderson]

I feel the best argument for the conservation of the Pupfish is: "You know who else wanted to make the Pupfish extinct? CHARLES MANSON!!!!". :D

[dominique]

Never knew how much I needed a mortician yelling through a gate "How you doin in there, pupfish?!?"
I feel better now

[ifsheisgonetowherethere]

“We don’t know if the Devils Hole pupfish has or ever will serve any of these important functions, which seems unlikely as long as the species remains restricted to its single cavernous refuge. We do know that the pupfish, like all species, has a fundamental right to exist that is independent of its value to humans.”

[Elenawen]

Ok but now I want to see the reaction of whatever guard is watching the surveillance video of Caitlin banging on the fence yelling "How you doin' in there pupfish?"

[jazzycat]

My therapist: "Pupfish Caitlin isn't real, she can't hurt you"
Pupfish Caitlin: 14:25

[twothreebravo]

One of the greatest reason to keep these pupfish alive is that they are really the only thing left keeping people from putting in irrigation wells for farming and draining the water table in that area.

[Jenna-iwbi]

You forgot to mention the most terrifying part of Paul and David’s disappearance; the tunnel at the bottom. When the rescue divers discovered a small hole that was sucking water in through a fairly strong current, they dropped a weighted rope down in and it measured at LEAST 930 feet deep, and that’s just where the rope came to an end! It’s suspected the two men developed nitrogen narcosis and in their stupor, were sucked down into the hole, beyond hope of rescue. Some scientists suspect that beneath Devil’s Hole is a massive underground ocean, which would explain how earthquakes around the world are registered there, and that the men were pulled into its depths, never to be recovered. That idea is horrific

[SansVertigo]

It’s like keeping a pet at this point. An entire species as a pet. A really expensive pet. And I’m all for it.

[necordektox]

I understand the Nevadans being upset about the production of a farm halted, but destroying a rare one-of-a-kind animal for a mall is the most 80s thing I've ever heard. All it needs is a ragtag group of misfit friends and you got a Steven Spielberg classic right there.

[PJorgensen]

Caitlin as pupfish singing Starshine is EVERYTHING.

[gluk]

I love that whenever Caitlyn mentions an indigenous tribe or people, she always takes the time to make sure she pronounces their names and terms correctly.

[emcaco]

If a billionaire needs a hobby, their options could include becoming Batman and breeding pupfish

[SraTacoMal]

Can we just take a moment to commend Caitlin's bravery for going so close to an underwater cave with corpses inside?

[HomoSapien-zq]

Only Caitlin can make a 20+ minute video about a hole in the ground enjoyable
A true queen

[HShoshana]

The thing is, the pupfish now are holding onto the environment around them. Their presence is protecting the existence of Devil's Hole, keeping it from being drained or the surrounding area being needlessly developed.