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Vaquita - Phocoena sinus: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "alt=The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a critically endangered porpoise species endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California.|thumb|The vaquita (''Phocoena sinus'') is a critically endangered porpoise species endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California. The '''vaquita''' (''Phocoena sinus'') is a rare and endangered species of porpoise that lives only in a small area of the Gulf of California, Mexico. It is the smallest...") |
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[[File:Vaquita2 Olson NOAA.jpg|alt=The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a critically endangered porpoise species endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California.|thumb|The vaquita (''Phocoena sinus'') is a critically endangered porpoise species endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California.]] | {{Needs work|Problem=see discussion page.}}[[File:Vaquita2 Olson NOAA.jpg|alt=The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a critically endangered porpoise species endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California.|thumb|The vaquita (''Phocoena sinus'') is a critically endangered porpoise species endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California.]] | ||
The '''vaquita''' (''Phocoena sinus'') is a rare and endangered species of porpoise that lives only in a small area of the Gulf of California, Mexico. It is the smallest and most threatened cetacean in the world, with an estimated 10 individuals remaining in the wild.<ref>[https://porpoise.org/knowledge-base/how-many-vaquitas-are-left-in-the-world/ How many Vaquitas are left in the world in 2023?] Porpoise Conservation Society</ref> The main cause of their decline is bycatch in illegal fishing nets set for another endangered fish, the totoaba, whose swim bladder is highly valued in China. | The '''vaquita''' (''Phocoena sinus'') is a rare and endangered species of porpoise that lives only in a small area of the Gulf of California, Mexico. It is the smallest and most threatened cetacean in the world, with an estimated 10 individuals remaining in the wild.<ref>[https://porpoise.org/knowledge-base/how-many-vaquitas-are-left-in-the-world/ How many Vaquitas are left in the world in 2023?] Porpoise Conservation Society</ref> The main cause of their decline is bycatch in illegal fishing nets set for another endangered fish, the totoaba, whose swim bladder is highly valued in China. | ||
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Vaquitas are critically endangered, meaning they face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. According to the latest population estimate from 2019, there are only about 10 vaquitas left in the world. This represents a dramatic decline from about 600 vaquitas in 1997, when they were first recognized as endangered. | Vaquitas are critically endangered, meaning they face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. According to the latest population estimate from 2019, there are only about 10 vaquitas left in the world. This represents a dramatic decline from about 600 vaquitas in 1997, when they were first recognized as endangered. | ||
== Threats == | |||
The main threat to vaquitas is bycatch, which means they get accidentally caught and drowned in fishing nets that are not intended for them. The most dangerous nets are gillnets, which are large walls of mesh that hang vertically in the water and trap any animal that swims into them. Gillnets are used by illegal fishermen who target another endangered fish called the totoaba, which has a large swim bladder that can fetch thousands of dollars per kilogram in China for its supposed medicinal properties. | The main threat to vaquitas is bycatch, which means they get accidentally caught and drowned in fishing nets that are not intended for them. The most dangerous nets are gillnets, which are large walls of mesh that hang vertically in the water and trap any animal that swims into them. Gillnets are used by illegal fishermen who target another endangered fish called the totoaba, which has a large swim bladder that can fetch thousands of dollars per kilogram in China for its supposed medicinal properties. | ||
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Other threats to vaquitas include habitat degradation due to pollution, overfishing, climate change, and reduced freshwater inflow from rivers. These factors may affect the availability and quality of food and water for vaquitas and their prey. | Other threats to vaquitas include habitat degradation due to pollution, overfishing, climate change, and reduced freshwater inflow from rivers. These factors may affect the availability and quality of food and water for vaquitas and their prey. | ||
In August 2023 the [[International Whaling Commission]] (IWC) issued an extinction alert for the vaquita porpoise, with a population estimated to be less than a dozen. This marked the IWC's first-ever extinction warning. The IWC called for urgent action, suggesting a complete ban on gill netting in the vaquita's habitat to potentially aid its recovery.<ref name=":0">https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/extinction-alert-issued-mexicos-threatened-vaquita-porpoise-2023-08-07/</ref> | |||
The extinction of the vaquita is imminent unless immediate steps are taken to replace gillnets with alternative fishing methods. Mexico has been under pressure to address this issue, and the U.S. has criticized Mexico for failing to halt the illegal wildlife trade affecting the vaquita.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
== See also == | |||
{{Vaquita/See also}} | |||
== External links == | |||
=== Articles === | |||
* [https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/525704/facts-about-the-vaquita 11 Facts About the Vaquita, The World's Most Endangered Porpoise] Mental Floss | |||
* [https://scoop.upworthy.com/this-is-the-stunning-vaquita-the-rarest-animal-in-the-world-only-10-of-them-exist-571191-571191-571191 This is the stunning vaquita, the rarest animal in the world. Only 10 of them exist.] Upworthy.com | |||
=== Video === | |||
* [https://money.cnn.com/interactive/news/vaquita-business-of-extinction/ Vaquita - The Business of Extinction] CNN documentary video | |||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMBMgNcY8hA 2023 Vaquita Survey Press Conference] Sea Shepherd Conservation Society | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Phocoenidae]] | [[Category:Cetacean]] | ||
[[Category:Phocoenidae (family)]] | |||
[[Category:Cetacea (infraorder)]] | |||