Vaquitas live close to shore in shallow lagoons where there is a strong tidal pool mix, meaning lots of choices for dinner, but vaquitas are not picky eaters.
Vaquitas are elusive creatures and are shy of boats. If you have never heard of a vaquita, it may be because these shy creatures also go by other aliases including cochito and gulf porpoise. These shy creatures are also the smallest marine cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) on earth!
Why One of the Rarest Animals on Earth Needs Our Help
Becuase it is one of the rarest animals on earth with an estimated population of only 150 vaquitas remaining. Vaquitas are only found in the Gulf of California in Mexico and have the most limited habitat of any cetacean. The biggest threat to vaquitas is being caught as by catch in commercial fishing operations where they became entangled in fishing line and drown. The government of Mexico is working to remove all gill nets from the vaquita habitat and to buy out affected fishermen. Vaquitas habitat has also changed dramatically with the damming of the Colarado River in the U.S. which had a negative impact on the vaquita. Sources: Animal Info -Vaquita, Expedition Vaquita, Animal Bytes - Vaquita. See a video of a vaquita.
Help Save One of the Rarest Animals on Earth - The Vaquita
- Sign the Save the Vaquita petition
- Volunteer or do an internship with Cedo Intercultural and help save the vaquita
- Join Whale Trackers on Facebook
- Donate to the Recovery Vaquita Fund proceeds will help with the removal of the gill nets
- Do not buy shrimp or fish caught with gillnets (vaquitas are critically endangered because of entanglement in gillnets, not intended for them)
- Write letters of support to Mexico’s Ministry of Environment, and tell them to save the vaquita
- Contact Viva Vaquita for more ways that you can help
- Support these new businesses of Mexican fishermen that were paid off to stop fishing in vaquita habitat
