VAQUITA POPULATIONS OVER TIME

Vaquita weren’t discovered by humans until 1958, and although the size of the population was not known prior, general evidence reveals that populations have never been large. The first survey estimating abundance of the species was conducted in 1977, numbering the vaquita population at 567 individuals. A second survey was conducted in 2008, numbering the population at 245 individuals. A third survey conducted in 2015 numbered the population at 59 individuals. Currently a staggering 18 individuals remain! If you do the math, since 1977, the vaquita population has decreased by 97.83%. The population is declining very rapidly, so we must take immediate action to stop this decline. The animal was discovered by humans only 63 years ago and it is now on the brink of extinction because of us. If human action is what has caused the Vaquitas' decline, then human action is what must spark the species’ recovery.