Vaquita

The vaquita porpoise. I'm sure many of you don't know this beautiful animal. It is an endemic species of Mexico. This species inhabits the northern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) and is in danger of extinction.

The vaquita, or as its scientific name is, Phocoena sinus, It is a small cetacean. Sadly, there are now fewer than 22 vaquita porpoises left and this continues to decline, when in 1997 there were 600 vaquita. But because it is on the verge of extinction due to illegal fishing, illegal fishermen catch a fish (highly traded on the black market in China because of its high value) that is found in the same area as the vaquita. The fishermen use large fine meshes with large threads in which the vaquita is trapped.

In fact, the vaquita is on the new 500 Mexican peso bill. Attached is a photo of the bills. There are several efforts to save and conserve this species. Hopefully, this species will not disappear. 

 Vaquita Marina, La marsopa más pequeña del mundo - gob. (n.d.). Retrieved July 3, 2022, from https://www.gob.mx/profepa/es/articulos/vaquita-marina-la-marsopa-mas-pequena-del-mundo?idiom=es