• The vaquita is the world's rarest marine mammal—and is in dire need of our help.

Vaquita are often caught and drowned in

gillnets used by illegal fishing operations in marine protected areas within Mexico's Gulf of California. This little porpoise was only
discovered in 1958, yet it's already on the brink of extinction.
• 1. How many vaquitas are left?
• A survey released earlier this year estimated the vaquita population was as low as 30 individuals. An all time low for the porpoise, the population is half of
what it was just the year before. And a 97% drop from the year before that.
• 2. What do vaquitas look like?
• The world’s smallest porpoise, vaquitas measure up to five-feet long and weigh up to 120 lbs. The vaquita’s unique facial markings of a black ring around each
eye and black curved lips have been compared to a smiling panda. They are dark gray on their dorsal (top) surface with pale gray sides and a white underside
with light gray markings. Newborns generally have darker coloration.
• 3. Where do vaquitas live?
• Vaquitas only live in the northern end of Mexico’s Gulf of California. Besides the vaquita, the Gulf of California has tremendous biological and economic
importance. It supports an extraordinary diversity of marine life including sharks, whales, marine turtles, and many species of reef fish. The Upper Gulf of
California is considered globally unique because of its ecological characteristics, enormous biodiversity and the amount of species that live in this area.
• 4. Why are vaquitas so endangered?
• Unsustainable and illegal fishing practices are the main drivers pushing vaquita to extinction, particularly due to bycatch from illegal fishing. Vaquitas share
waters with the much sought-after totoaba fish and fishing nets inadvertently catch and drown the porpoise. Demand for totoaba swim bladders – believed to
cure a variety of illness and diseases in Chinese medicine- is driving the vaquita to extinction. The swim bladders are often illegally smuggled over the US
border and then shipped to China where it can sell up to USD 8,500 per kilogram in the black market.

• © Thomas A. Jefferson
•
• 5. What can be done to save the vaquita?
• Mexican President Peña Nieto has committed to protecting the vaquita. But totoaba fishing—the main threat to vaquitas—has continued to increase. And of
course, vaquita numbers have dropped to dangerous lows.
• WWF is asking for an immediate, increased response from the Mexican government, World Heritage Committee and CITES Parties, NGOS and civil society
groups to protect the last remaining vaquitas and set the Upper Gulf of California on a path to recovery. Failure to act will result in the imminent extinction of
the vaquita.
• On June 30, 2017, the government of Mexico announced a permanent ban on the use of gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California.
• The Gulf of California World Heritage site is at risk of being listed as in danger by the World Heritage Committee. Mexico has been given one year to
demonstrate that it is taking appropriate legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures to protect this heritage site and the animals that live
there—including the vaquita.
 Vaquita
• Official name: The Vaquita
• Size and Weight: Vaquitas measure up to five-feet long and weigh up to 120 lbs
• Population: A survey released earlier this year estimated the vaquita population was as low as 30 individuals. An all
time low for the porpoise, the population is half of what it was just the year before. And a 97% drop from the year
before that
• Predator: Large sharks and Killer Whales
• Prey: Small octopuses, squids, and fish like groats, croakers and sea trout.
• Did you know?:Vaquitas only live in the northern end of Mexico’s Gulf of California. Besides the vaquita, the Gulf of
California has tremendous biological and economic importance. It supports an extraordinary diversity of marine life
including sharks, whales, marine turtles, and many species of reef fish. The Upper Gulf of California is considered
globally unique because of its ecological characteristics, enormous biodiversity and the amount of species that live
in this areaUnsustainable and illegal fishing practices are the main drivers pushing vaquita to extinction, particularly
due to bycatch from illegal fishing. Vaquitas share waters with the much sought-after totoaba fish and fishing nets
inadvertently catch and drown the porpoise. Demand for totoaba swim bladders – believed to cure a variety of
illness and diseases in Chinese medicine- is driving the vaquita to extinction. The swim bladders are often illegally
smuggled over the US border and then shipped to China where it can sell up to USD 8,500 per kilogram in the black
market.