Mexico Hails Sightings of Near-Extinct Porpoise Expatica
go to original October 31, 2015

Two vaquita porpoises in the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico (Chris Johnson/WWF)

An international scientific expedition has spotted up to 25 individual specimens of a near-extinct small porpoise in Mexico's Gulf of California, amid efforts to save the critically endangered vaquita marina.

The environment ministry said that the rare sightings of the world's smallest porpoise were made during the first 20 days of the Vaquita Expedition 2015, which started on September 26.

The scientists cautioned, however, that some of porpoises may have been counted more than once as the same may have been seen several times.

The mission seeks to obtain a precise estimate of the abundance of vaquitas in the region since the government announced in April a ban on gillnets blamed for nearly decimating the specie.

...A report by a panel of international scientists warned last year that there were fewer than 100 vaquitas remaining, down from 200 specimens in 2012, and the animal could vanish by 2018.

Read the rest at Expatica

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!