While the vaquita is not deliberately hunted by humans, its downfall has been the extensive fishing of the totoaba, a fish whose swim bladder is a delicacy in China. Gill nets used to catch totoaba have quite literally massacred the vaquita - over 80% of their population disappeared between 2008 and 2015.
Government efforts to preserve the species were perfunctory - “vaquita-safe” nets proved nowhere near as effective as the old gill nets, fishermen rioted when a related fishery was shut down for fear of it being used as a cover for tatoaba poaching (ironic, as that fishery used safer nets), and compensatory monthly checks to men losing their livelihood were meager, sometimes less than a man could make in a single day’s fishing. The export of tataobas was banned and a marine reserve established, but poaching and smuggling is rampant, and there is little incentive to stop it. A single tatoaba bladder can bring in $20 000, while the fine for being caught poaching is about $500. Even now, the controversial Sea Shepherd is one of the few ships patrolling for poachers, and they can do little but film and report them. In the meantime, dead vaquita continue to be pulled from the waters.
The latest estimates say there may be only 12 vaquita left in the world. If the vaquita goes extinct, it will be the first extinction of a marine mammal since the loss of the baijiin 2006.
Thevaquita has the most restricted range of any marine cetacean, as they are endemic to the northern end of the Gulf of California. They have evolved to live in shallow, murky water, sometimes so shallow that their backs protrude from the water. Unlike many other marine animals, they can also cope with the rapid and extreme temperature changes that can occur in shallow water.
Because of the vaquita’s low numbers, the National Marine Mammal Foundation attempted to start a captive breeding program. However, after a female vaquita died of stress shortly after being captured, the program was abandoned. It is unlikely a similar program will be attempted in the future.
Thevaquita is Mexico’s only endemic marine mammal. The name vaquita is Spanish for “little cow”, and other names for the species include cochito (Spanish for “little pig”), desert porpoise, vaquita porpoise, Gulf of California harbor porpoise, Gulf of California porpoise, and gulf porpoise.
Thevaquita is the world’s smallest cetacean, growing only about 141 centimetres in length. They are also the most endangered cetacean on the planet, with some marine biologists believing there are as few as 12 individuals left alive.
Between 1997 and 2019, gillnets killed hundreds of vaquitas. Their estimated population dropped from approximately 600 to fewer than 20 animals. In 2008 there was 245. In 2015, 59. Current estimates as of this post place them at about 10 left.
Here are some illustrations I made over the past couple of months for different people. The striped and common dolphin were most recent - for a sailing company in Portugal. Most are reworks of older illustrations though to be fair, any resemblance to the originals is rather lost. They kind of go along with the two Australian bottlenose dolphins I posted recently. I really like this style of illustration; a bit loose but still realistic. They’re super fun to make because they’re relatively quick and I don’t get hung up on polishing every last detail. I hope you like them too ♥
All of these illustrations - and many more - can be licensed for use by the way! For a full list of available illustrations, and some more info, check my website or contact me.
This bottle-nosed porpoise seems to thoroughly enjoy making his spectacular jumps through a circle of flame and smoke, during his act in Marineland’s huge Sea Arena.
My artwork named ‘Vaquita: Panda of the Sea’ is now being showcased at Extinction - 2022 exhibition, organized by Gallerium and powered by @Biafarin platform. This features the beautiful Vaquita an critically endangered species. @vaquitacpr Please follow me for animal artwork.
Happy National Dolphin Day! Here are a couple of my dolphin paintings. Celebrate today with a smile that only dolphins can bring! Please follow me for more animal artwork! #dolphins #dolphin #dolphins #nationaldolphinday #nationaldolphinday #dolphinlover #dolphinlovers #bottlenosedolphin #bottlenosedolphins #oilpainting #oilpaintings #oiloncanvas #oilpaintinglovers #porpoise #dolphinlove #dolphinswimming #dolphinart #wildlifeart #wildlifeartist #wildlifeaddicts #wildlifeconservation #wildlifeaddicts #animaladdicts #animalart https://www.instagram.com/p/CcVosnlF2hC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
