About Them

  Vaquitas, also scientifically known as Phocoena sinus, live in the upper part of Mexico's Gulf of California. Vaquitas are the world's smallest porpoise, they can get up to 5 ft in length and only weigh anywhere from 80-120 pounds. They were not discovered until 1958, but today very little is known about them. They usually are in shallow waters but are easily scared away.

  Vaquitas have large dark circles around their eyes and dark patches on its lips that forms a line from their mouths to their pectoral fins. They have dark dorsal areas, white with light gray markings on their ventral side, and their sides are pale gray. Usually newborns have darker tones.  

Why are they important?

  Vaquitas are the most endangered cetacean in the world. There is fewer than 200 of them left and in the future they are at a high risk of becoming extinct. If we do not take action soon the Vaquitas will vanish forever. They are very "quiet" mammals, that rarely splash, leap, or jump. They are not harmful to humans and they eat corvine, toadfish, and squid. 

Threats

 
  They have natural predators like sharks but bycatch is their worst nightmare. Vaquitas are caught in gillnets by accident, but since they need to come up to the surface to get air, they usually drown when they get caught in the nets. Too many get caught and killed throughout the years. Bycatch in areas where Vaquitas live needs to be eliminated as soon as possible so we can get rid of their biggest threat and try to keep them from becoming extinct.   

How to help

WWF has been studying Vaquitas for a long time so they can come up with protective measures to save them before they become extinct. They are also coming up with new alternatives for fishing so Vaquitas are not accidentally caught. 

Ways you can help:

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1693387

http://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/default.aspx?sc=AWY1302WC900