The world's smallest porpoise was found washed up on the shores. Unfortunately, this is one of the few remaining kind.
National Geographic reported how illegal gillnet fishing caused the extinction of the world's smallest porpoise. Vaquita, the rarest porpoise of its kind is still continuously losing its kind for there are only not more than 60 of its kind remaining all over the globe, as announced by the Mexican government.
In just two years, the numbers of the world's smallest porpoise just dropped 40 percent because of illegal fishing in the area. The use of gillnets is one of the prohibited fishing equipment that also traps vaquitas because of its tiny holes.
According to DW, the world's smallest porpoise that was found is just a newborn for its umbilical cord is still attached on the beach of the Gulf of California. Drowning in the prohibited gillnets is the main threat to vaquitas, even if the gillnets are not exactly on purpose of catching the endangered species. It is because the gillnets are used for catching the Totoaba, a highly priced fish for its dried swim bladder which is exported to China.
To note, millions of dollars of environmental funds have been spent just to save the world's smallest porpoise. Their main instruction is to impose a strict ban on gillnet fishing in the area that would also compensate local fishermen.
Omar Vidal, CEO of WWF-Mexico stated in a press release that despite all the efforts, they are still weak in the battle of saving the world's smallest porpoise. However, Vidal does not lose hope, "We can still save the vaquita, but this is our last chance."
Meanwhile, scientists and environmentalists announced that the last-ditch to save the world's smallest porpoise is by capturing some specimens. The specimens will be kept safe in an enclosure at the same gulf for them to multiply. However, some view this as very risky in terms of survival of the vaquita.
