Marine Mammals

Vaquita: The World's Rarest Marine Mammal

The vaquita porpoise faces extinction with fewer than 10 individuals remaining. Understanding its plight highlights the urgency of bycatch prevention and illegal fishing enforcement.

Key Facts

Fewer than 10 vaquitas remain in the wild
Found only in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico
Primary threat is entanglement in illegal gillnets for totoaba fish
Listed as Critically Endangered since 1996
Named vaquita meaning 'little cow' in Spanish

Welfare Considerations

Each surviving vaquita is precious beyond measure. Bycatch entanglement causes drowning — a prolonged, terrifying death for an air-breathing mammal. Conservation efforts must balance urgency with avoiding additional disturbance stress to these last individuals.

What You Can Do

Support organisations working to enforce gillnet bans in vaquita habitat
Avoid purchasing totoaba products which drive the illegal fishing
Advocate for stronger international enforcement of wildlife trafficking laws
Donate to the Vaquita CPR and WWF vaquita programs
Raise awareness about this critically urgent conservation emergency