Vaquitas Facts and conservation status | International Save the Vaquita Day

Vaquitas

The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is also known as the Gulf of California harbour porpoise. They are endemic to the northern part of California. It is the smallest and rarest of the cetaceans – which includes whale,  dolphins, and porpoises. The vaquita is the most endangered species of marine mammal in the world. They are very rarely seen in the wild. In Spanish, vaquita means 'little cow' and many local people believe them to be 'mythical creatures' as most have never seen one and photographs, until recently, were lacking. The vaquita has a grey body with a pale gray or white belly and a dark patch around its eye. It is listed as critically endangered because the estimated number of individuals dropped below 100 in 2014, putting it in imminent danger of extinction or approaching to extinction.  That number was updated to approximately 60 in May 2016, leading to the conclusion that the species is about to extinction within 5 years unless further conservation efforts are undertaken.

Appearance:

The vaquita has a complex patterning and colour variations in individuals are common. Like the other porpoises, the vaquita has virtually no beak and between 32 and 44 teeth in the upper jaw and 34 to 40 in the lower. Vaquitas have a dark ring surrounding their eyes, and the mouth area is dark. Their bellies are paler grey or white. A dark grey stripe runs from their mouth, down their chin, and widens where the flippers, which are small and broad, meet their body. Vaquita's dorsal fins are shark-like being tall and triangular and the species can sometimes be confused with bottlenose and common dolphins which are also present in their range however their size is distinctive. Their bodies are robust in build and medium to dark grey on the back, sometimes appearing tawny or olive brown.

The vaquitas have a height  up to 5 feet and weighing up to 120 pounds.

Behaviour:

Vaquitas use high-pitched sounds or sonar to communicate with one another and for echolocation to navigate through their habitats. The vaquita is also the only porpoise species found in such warm waters. They are very shy and avoid boats whenever possible. Vaquitas are nonselective predators. They generally seem to feed and swim at a leisurely pace.

Distribution:

Vaquitas are found in the northern end of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), with a core area of approx. 2,235 km². They live in shallow water along the shoreline, often in shallow lagoons. Their range may stretch further south along the Mexican mainland and movements may be seasonal. Vaquitas are on the brink of extinction and the worldwide population is estimated to consist of less than 100 individuals. The major threat to the vaquita is entanglement in fishing nets (specifically gillnets used to catch shrimp) whilst habitat loss, climate change and chemical pollution are also concerns.

Current conservation efforts include not only the Mexican government but also national and international NGOs, academic institutions and other relevant stakeholders, aiming to extreme conservation measures in order to avoid the extinction of the vaquita. The IUCN lists this species as Critically Endangered. The vaquitas porpoise is growing nearer to extinction : Population has declined 40% to around 60 individuals.

International Save the Vaquita Day:

The first Saturday after the 4th of July has been designated as International Save the Vaquita Day. This is intended to be an annual event similar to Earth Day, but with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus).  Events around the globe direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction.

The primary goal is to make as many people as possible aware of the vaquita and its plight, and spur them to act.  The species is nearly extinct, with only about 50-60 individuals left, and declining at 30% per year!  We will have a simple message for folks about what they can do to help.  Secondary goals are to gather signatures for our petitions to the Mexican government, and also to raise additional funds for future educational and research work on the vaquita.

In july 2016, President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico and President Barack Obama announced bilateral collaboration measures to protect the vaquita. As a follow to this meeting and to the recommendations CIRVA presented in its latest vaquita report, Mexico’s National Institute of Fisheries (INAPESCA) and WWF Mexico established an international committee of experts to further develop and urgently implement vaquita safe fishing technologies.

They will advise the Mexican government on improving fishing techniques that not harmfuk to vaquita

In 2016, we organized International Save the Vaquita Day (ISTV Day) on Saturday, July 9th.  This event featured over 30 booths and other venues at sites in southern California, various cities in the US, and all over the world.  The venues included 12 aquaria and 9 museums.  There were experts on hand to answer questions, seminars, educational demonstrations, children’s games and events, face-painting, brochures and colouring books, etc.  At one site (Seaport Village in San Diego) there was even live music – the LA-based surf-rock band Insect Surfers.

The events were all very peaceful, and respectful of the Mexican fishing culture.  It is estimated that at least 15,895 people were educated about the vaquita at the various events on ISTV Day 2016.

"SAVE THE VAQUITAS"