According to a recent report, there are only 10 vaquita porpoises left on the entire planet.
You may have never heard of this rare species. Vaquitas are the smallest and most endangered cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in existence.
These tiny porpoises live only in one small area of the Gulf of California (highlighted in red below).
UNESCO recently decided to add the area to the List of World Heritage in Danger due to concerns about the imminent extinction of the vaquita, an endemic porpoise in the Gulf of California.
The waters in which the vaquita thrive is unfortunately the same place where gillnet fishermen consistently saturate the area with nets. The fishermen are searching for another species, the critically endangered totoaba fish, to fuel the black market demand for their swim bladders in China. Totoaba swim bladders are considered a delicacy and many are under the impression that it has medicinal value as well. The trade, and all gillnet fishing in this area, is illegal.
Unfortunately, vaquitas are often caught incidentally (by accident) in these gillnets and drown. With less than a dozen individuals left, even 1 vaquita caught and killed by accident is a huge hit to the population. At the current rate, the population will be extinct within a year or two.
Mexico is leading the conservation effort for this species by attempting to give fishermen alternative incomes, removing gillnets, patrolling the area, and expanding their existing nature reserve.
Omar Vidal, CEO of World Wildlife Fund Mexico said, “We can still save the vaquita, but this is our last chance. The Mexican government must ban all fishing within the vaquita’s habitat now and until the species shows signs of recovery. Anything else is just wishful thinking.”
Want to help? Spread the word about this species to put pressure on the Mexican government. This species needs the world behind them!
Learn more about vaquita conservation efforts:
