Adios, vaquita? One of Mexico's rarest animals is on the brink of extinction

According to the American Museum of National History, over 10,000 species go extinct every year, from microbes to animals, to plants. However, this regrettable club might get soon an iconic new member.

The International Whaling Commission released for the first time an extinction warning over the vaquita porpoise back in August. This animal is considered the most endangered cetacean in the world.

CNN explains that the vaquita (Spanish for “little cow”) is the smallest of porpoises and can only be found in the Gulf of Baja California, in Northwestern Mexico.

Image: @amyjoyhumphries / Unsplash

The population of vaquita porpoises decreased dramatically from circa 570 in 1997 to only 10, according to IWC data.

The main culprit for the possible extinction of the vaquita porpoise? Gillnets are recognized as the main threat to their existence.

In particular, nets are set to catch the Totoaba, which the IWC explains that is of similar size than the vaquita.

The totoaba is the most expensive fish in the world according to National Geographic. Many fish it illegally, since its bladder can be sold up to 8,000 US dollars in the Chinese black market.

The poor vaquita therefore ends being netted as a bycatch and not the intended target.

National Geographic explains that another major risk for the vaquita is the illegal fishing of shrimp with gillnets in Baja California.

According to Mexican law, the only legal way to fish blue shrimp in the Gulf of California is with small boats using trawlers. However, the locals do not usually observe the law and, in turn, sell them to industrial trawlers for importation to the US.

Image: @guilhermestecanella / Unsplash

However, the IWC doesn’t think the vaquita porpoise is completely doomed and believes there’s a chance of recovery.

The scientific committee highlights that if gillnet fishing is prohibited, then the vaquita still has a chance of survival.

Otherwise, the vaquita will end up disappearing just as the dodo did.