Report: Only 30 Vaquita Porpoises Left on Earth
Only about 30 vaquitas remain in the world, scientists have revealed in a new report. Vaquitas, the world's smallest and most endangered porpoises, are found nowhere other than the Gulf of California -- and their extinction is imminent unless Mexico permanently and effectively bans gillnet fishing. Entanglement in nets set for totoaba, an endangered fish whose swim bladders are illegally exported to Asia to make soup, is the primary threat to the porpoises.
"Vaquitas are on the verge of vanishing forever," said Sarah Uhlemann, the Center for Biological Diversity's international program director. "Mexico has to get serious now about banning gillnets and actually enforcing the law."
The new report also recommends a temporary captivity program for some vaquita, though that shouldn't divert resources away from instituting a permanent gillnet ban. Stay tuned for how you can help save these incredible animals.
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