Vaquita

What’s that? A tequila-based cocktail? Yummy!

Don’t be ridiculous. The vaquita is a species of porpoise that’s found in the clear blue waters of the Gulf of California.

So what’s so special about it?

At 1.5m in length, vaquitas are the smallest species of cetacean in the world. They are often referred to as the ‘panda of the sea’ thanks to their distinctive black and white markings.

Cute. Anything else?

I’m afraid so. With an estimated 30 individuals remaining, the vaquita is thought to be the world’s most endangered marine mammal. Some experts believe that, without drastic action, they could be extinct by 2018.

That’s terrible. How come there are so few left?

Vaquita are often caught in gill nets: fishing nets that are hung vertically so that fish get snagged by their gills. The problem is exacerbated by the illegal demand for the bladder of the totoaba – another critically endangered species that is native to the region – for use in traditional medicine.