Plight of the vaquita forces International Whaling Commission to issue first extinction alert

Source: The post is based on the article “Plight of the vaquita forces International Whaling Commission to issue first extinction alert”  published in Down to Earth on 7th August 2023.

What is the News?

The International Whaling Commission(IWC) has issued its first ‘extinction alert’ on the Vaquita Porpoise.

What is Vaquita Porpoise?

Vaquita Porpoise is the world’s smallest cetacean. It is also known as the “panda of the sea” for the distinctive black circles around its eyes, along with a proportionally large dorsal fin.

The vaquita is unique among the porpoises as it is the only species of that family found in warm waters.

A dark ring around the eyes is its most striking feature, along with a proportionally large dorsal fin. 

Found in: It is only found in the northern-most part of the Gulf of California, Mexico. 

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

CITES: Appendix I

Declining population: The vaquita population has been declining continuously for decades due to bycatch in gillnet set to catch shrimp and fish including totoaba.

– Its numbers have fallen from a population of approximately 570 in 1997 to around 10 animals in 2018.

What are Porpoises?

Porpoises are among the smallest members of the cetacean family (whales, porpoises and dolphins). 

They are only distant relatives of dolphins (they last had a common ancestor roughly 15 million years ago).There are only seven species of porpoise; the most popular being the widely distributed harbour porpoise.