Vaquitas have never been held in captivity. It is one of the rarest and most-endangered mammal species in the world. Its fate is tied to that of the upper Gulf of California ecosystem. The vaquita could go extinct in as little as two years if we do not act NOW.
Vaquitas only live in one small area in the north of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), off Mexico. They are not found anywhere else on Earth. The area they call home is just 2,235 square kilometres, although we think they may roam a bit further south along the Mexican coast.
Ban on Gill-net Fishing in the Sea of Cortez.
Where can vaquitas be found?
Vaquitas have the smallest range of any whale, dolphin, or porpoise. They only live in the northern part of the Gulf of California, an area that is rich in fish and shrimp. Fishing is thus a major source of income for the people there, who almost exclusively use gillnets, but vaquitas can also become accidentally wrapped in the nets and drown.
Another frequently asked inquiry is “Where is the vaquita most commonly found?”.
They are most often found close to shore in the Gulf’s shallow waters, although they quickly swim away if a boat approaches. The vaquita is the most endangered cetacean in the world. With as few as around 10 left, the species will become extinct without a fully enforced gillnet ban throughout their entire habitat.
One answer is, The vaquita is the most endangered cetacean in the world. With as few as 30 left, the species will become extinct without a fully enforced gillnet ban throughout their entire range. WWF urgently working to ensure they can live and thrive in their natural habitat.
Can the vaquita be saved from extinction?
The window of opportunity for saving the vaquita is closing fast, but extinction is still preventable. You can help by making the right choices at the supermarket, by donating to conservation efforts, or simply by spreading the word.
While researching we ran into the query “Why is the vaquita endangered?”.
Nearly one out of every five vaquita get entangled and drown in gillnets intended for other marine species like the totoaba, a critically endangered fish also found in the upper Gulf of California. Entanglement in gillnets set for totoaba was the primary cause that brought the vaquita to low levels by the mid-1970s.
Are We on the brink of losing the vaquita porpoise?
This little porpoise wasn’t discovered until 1958 and a little over half a century later, we are on the brink of losing them forever. The population has dropped drastically in the last few years.