Critically endangered vaquita porpoises spotted in Mexico expedition
- Only six to eight critically endangered vaquita marina porpoises were sighted in the Gulf of California.
- Last year, experts estimated they saw from 10 to 13 of the tiny, shy porpoises during a sighting expedition.
- Efforts to protect the vaquita porpoises continue amidst their critically endangered status.
The vaquitas, the world's smallest and most endangered marine mammal, are facing a critical situation in the Gulf of California. Recent expeditions have shown a decline in their numbers, with only a few remaining individuals sighted. Illegal fishing activities, particularly the use of gillnets to catch totoaba fish, pose a significant threat to the vaquitas' survival. Despite some efforts by the Mexican government to protect the vaquitas, enforcement of regulations remains lax, allowing illegal fishing to persist. Conservationists emphasize the urgent need for stronger enforcement measures to prevent the extinction of this species. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration has been criticized for not taking sufficient action to address the threats facing the vaquitas. The future of these elusive porpoises remains uncertain, highlighting the importance of immediate and effective conservation efforts to save them from extinction.