Vaquita

The vaquita is considered a species of porpoise endemic to the northern end of the Gulf of California in Baja California, Mexico. It has averaged 150 cm for females or 140 cm for males in length, so far it has been listed as the smallest of all living cetaceans. The vaquita is currently on the brink of extinction and is currently listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List with the steep decline in abundance being preeminent, mainly due to bycatch in gillnets from the illegal fishery.

The Vaquita is currently the rarest animal in the world, and quite possibly the most endangered, with only about 10 individuals left in the wild. That estimate comes from a report published by the IUCN in early 2019 that stated that only about 10 vaquitas are still alive. But as per an acoustic monitoring program practiced in the Gulf, The Vaquita has a 95% chance of remaining 6 to 22 individuals in the wild. Unfortunately, there are no Vaquita in captivity and there is currently no successful breeding program to help bring their numbers back up.

Location: Northern part of the Gulf of California

Estimated Number of Mature Individuals: about 10 in the wild (possibly between 6 and 22)

Current Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

Scientific Name: Phocoena sinus