Endangered Vaquita Porpoises Seen in Sea of Cortez The Himalayan Times
go to original October 5, 2015

Sea Shepherd captures rare footage of elusive Vaquita during first sighting since 2013 (Sea Shepherd Conservation Society)

A newly launched effort to find critically endangered vaquita marina porpoises has already spotted at least two and perhaps three of the elusive, rarely seen creatures in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is collaborating with Mexico in an effort to count the remaining vaquitas, said Thursday that two of animals — the world’s smallest porpoises — were sighted.

“Jubilation and relief,” was the way the NOAA described the mood at seeing the vaquitas. Experts have estimated that fewer than 100 vaquitas survive.

The tiny porpoises “were spotted swimming in calm waters near the fishing village of San Felipe, Baja California,” the NOAA said.

Mexico’s Environment Department said in a statement that three vaquitas had been sighted in the voyage aboard a research vessel last week: one male, a female, and a third whose gender could not be determined.

Nobody is quite sure how many vaquitas remain in the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California. It’s the only place they are found.

See the original at The Himalayan Times

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