Vaquitas Could Soon be Extinct

One of the world’s most endangered mammals is the vaquita, a pint-sized porpoise that lives in the Gulf of California off Mexico.

This reclusive creature is only four and a half feet long and is the smallest member of the cetaceans family, which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The species was discovered in 1950, which also revealed just how quickly these creatures were declining in numbers. 

In 2018 only 19 were left and now, scientists estimate that the number has gone down to 10. This decline in population makes it very likely that the vaquita will soon go extinct.

Vaquitas are regularly caught in gill nets, nets used specifically to fish illegally for shrimp and totoabas, a fish that is considered a delicacy in China despite the fact that it is also endangered.

These nets regularly entangle vaquitas, slowly drowning them as they are unable to get away. This has been the number one known cause of their depleting populations since they were first discovered.

This lesser-known species is on the brink of extinction and desperately needs more protection from gillnets and commercial fishing operations.

Sign this petition to demand the government of Mexico protect the vaquita by fully enforcing prohibitions on illegal boats and gillnets!

Related Content:

• Vaquita Calf Spotted in the Wild Gives Hope for the Survival of This Extremely Endangered Species
• Shocking Report Reveals Only 12 Vaquita Porpoises Are Left in the Wild – And It’s Our Fault
• Leonardo DiCaprio Teams Up With Mexican President to Save the Vaquita!
• New Project Offers Hope for 19 Vaquita Porpoises Left in the World
• 10 Devastating Videos of Marine Animals Caught in Fishing Gear

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