Co-Founded by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett, Green Global Travel is an ecotourism, nature / wildlife conservation & cultural preservation magazine. More about us.
Published July 14, 2012 | 
Photo by Dr. Thomas A. Jefferson
SPECIES- Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
CURRENT RANGE- Gulf of California, Mexico
CURRENT THREAT- Commercial Fishing/Shrimping Industry
CONSERVATION STATUS- Critically Endangered
WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM- Gulf of California (if you’re lucky)
WHAT IS IT?
Porpoises are the smallest cetacean, the order of marine mammal life that includes whales and dolphins. Vaquita happen to be the tiniest species of porpoise. The small, shy swimmer grows only about 4-5 feet in length and weighs somewhere between 90-120 pounds as a full adult. (Contrastingly, the common dolphin can reach over 500 pounds.) The Vaquita, which also goes by the name desert porpoise, is only found in a cozy section of the Gulf of California in Mexico. Oddly though, the pint-sized porpoise has flippers that are proportionately larger than its cousins and a big appetite for small fish, squid and crab.
Vaquita Caught In A Fisherman’s Gillnet
WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED?
The main cause for the Vaquita’s vanishing can be explained in just two words: gillnet fishing. As you know, gillnets are used to catch shrimp. Unfortunately, when desert porpoises encounter the hard-to-see nets, they instinctively roll around and get tangled. The mammals can hold their breath for long periods, but marine biologists believe they go into shock and die after being stuck for so long. Vaquita numbers were thought to be well over 500 as recently as 1997. But because of this tragic fishing practice, that total has fallen somewhere between 100-200 today.
WHAT’S BEING DONE TO SAVE THEM?
The Vaquita is on every major wildlife conservation organization’s critical list, including the World Wildlife Fund and International Union for the Conversation of Nature (IUCN). Scientists have been working with the Mexican government on ways to rejuvenate the species for years. The Upper Gulf of California Biosphere Reserve, a nature reserve covering much of the Vaquita’s territory, was established by the Mexican government as a protected area in 1992. Groups like the Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita continue to hash out long-term solutions. Vaquita.tv offers the easy-to-follow documentary, Vaquita: Last Chance for the Desert Porpoise, while also providing additional ways you can help fix the complex problem. –DeMarco Williams
11 Responses to ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT- Vaquita (a.k.a. Desert Porpoise)
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Co-Founded by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett, Green Global Travel is an ecotourism, nature / wildlife conservation & cultural preservation magazine. More about us.Help Support Green Global Travel!
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Really appreciate these endangered species spotlights guys. I run a sustainable travel agency and it’s helpful to keep up to date with the endangered population and communicate relevant stories to my customers.
Irina recently posted..Hello world!
This is a great article! Mexico has a big campaign that is making people conscious about this specie.
Hope to have you in Mexico soon.
Thanks! We were there two years ago, but are hoping to come back in 2013 to swim with whale sharks in the wild.
Oh, so sad! Poor Vaquitas!
Lillie – @WorldLillie recently posted..We Spent Christmas at the Largest Mosque in India!
It is sad. It’s frustrating to see species like the Vaquita dying out slowly when just a little more consciousness/respect from fishermen could make a world of difference. It boggles the mind how so many people in this world are more concerned about their financial bottom line than they are about the well being of the planet.
Such a sad tale. With only 100 or 200 left it’s hard to imagine how the species will survive.
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Well, hopefully the WWF petition to Mexico to protect the Vaquita can make a difference. We’ve seen lots of cases where all it takes is local interest in conservation to turn a species’ story around.
Great job getting the word out on this very important issue! You are appreciated. -David & Veronica
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Thanks so much, guys! These posts don’t get nearly as many likes/shares/comments as our “sexy” travel posts, but they’re a big part of what our site is about and are a personal passion for Mary and I. So we appreciate your appreciation!
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