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.
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.
While I was writing we ran into the inquiry “Are vaquitas predators or prey?”.
Vaquitas exist as both predator and prey in their natural habitat. Preyed upon by members of the shark family, Vaquitas serve as important food sources for top predators.
Ban on Gill-net Fishing in the Sea of Cortez.
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.
Another inquiry we ran across in our research was “Why does the vaquita matter?”.
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.
Why is the vaquita endangered?
Vaquitas share waters with the much sought-after totoaba fish and fishing nets inadvertently catch and drown the porpoise.
Why are vaquitas endangered?
A healthy Vaquita population would support the Gulf of California’s ecosystems by balancing the populations of other species in an interdependent food web.
While we were reading we ran into the query “Can the vaquita be saved from extinction?”.
Some authors claimed 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.