DISCOVER THE VAQUITA

Have you ever heard of a vaquita? Many are not familiar with this small, shy, adorable creature, as it is one of the rarest cetaceans in the entire world. Its binomial nomenclature (or fancy latin name) is the Phocoena sinus which translates to “the Porpoise of the Gulf of California”. They can weigh anywhere from 65 to 120 pounds, have a lifespan of about 20 years, and are about 4 to 5 feet long. They look very similar to a dolphin, just much smaller and in my opinion much cuter. Female Vaquita are actually longer than the males, although males have larger fins. Vaquitas are tough to spot and monitor as they are small, don’t travel in large groups, and avoid motorized boats. This is why they are described as a “shy” animal. Maybe you and the vaquita species are more similar than you thought. You might be shy and introverted too! Vaquitas are an essential part of the food chain in their natural habitat as they serve as both a predator and prey. They both eat and are eaten. Vaquita’s diet consists of fish, squid, and crustaceans, and they serve as prey to top predators such as sharks. Stabilizing the population of the Vaquitas is essential in keeping populations within the aquatic food web in check. The health of the Vaquita population is also a reflection of the health of all cetacean populations (dolphin, whale, shark, etc). If the Vaquita goes extinct, how long before cetacean populations across the planet begin to dwindle? I know after seeing a picture of this adorable species, my heart can’t bear to see it go extinct. We as humans need to do better to ensure that the species is around for our children and children’s children to see!