The vaquita: 5 facts about the most endangered marine mammal
The vaquita is the world's rarest marine mammal—and is in dire need of our help.
© Thomas A. Jefferson
Vaquita are often caught and drowned in gillnets used by illegal fishing operations in marine protected areas within Mexico's Gulf of California. This little porpoise was only discovered in 1958, yet it's already on the brink of extinction.
WWF is working with the Mexican government, scientists, and other partners and collaborators to protect this unique creature.
Learn more about the vaquita and what you can do to save them.
1. How many vaquita are left?
A 2025 survey released earlier this year estimated the vaquita population could be as low as 7 to 10 individuals. While this number is incredibly low, vaquita numbers have not declined as compared to previous years.
2. What do vaquitas look like?
© Thomas A. Jefferson / VIVA Vaquita
The world’s smallest porpoise, vaquitas measure up to 5 feet long and weighs up to 120 lbs. The vaquita’s unique facial markings of a black ring around each eye and black curved lips have been compared to a smiling panda. They are dark gray on their dorsal (top) surface with pale gray sides and a white underside with light gray markings. Newborns generally have darker coloration.
3. Where do vaquitas live?
Vaquitas only live in the northern end of Mexico’s Gulf of California. Besides the vaquita, the Gulf of California has tremendous biological and economic importance. It supports an extraordinary diversity of marine life, including sharks, whales, sea turtles, and many species of reef fish. The Upper Gulf of California is considered globally unique because of its ecological characteristics, enormous biodiversity, and the number of species that live in this area.
4. Why are vaquitas so endangered?
Unsustainable and illegal fishing practices are the main drivers pushing vaquitas to extinction, particularly due to bycatch from illegal fishing. Vaquitas share waters with the much sought-after totoaba fish, and fishing nets inadvertently catch and drown the porpoise. Demand for totoaba swim bladders—believed to cure a variety of illnesses and diseases in Chinese medicine—is driving the vaquita to extinction. The swim bladders are often illegally smuggled over the US border and then shipped to China, where they can sell up to USD$8,500 per kilogram on the black market.
5. What can be done to save the vaquita?
The Mexican government has committed to protecting the vaquita. But totoaba fishing—the main threat to vaquitas—has continued to increase. And of course, vaquita numbers have dropped to dangerous lows.
WWF is asking for an immediate, increased response from the Mexican government, World Heritage Committee and CITES Parties, non-governmental organizations, and civil society groups to protect the last remaining vaquitas and set the Upper Gulf of California on a path to recovery. Failure to act will result in the imminent extinction of the vaquita.
On June 30, 2017, the government of Mexico announced a permanent ban on the use of gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California.
The Gulf of California World Heritage site is at risk of being listed as in danger by the World Heritage Committee. Mexico has been given one year to demonstrate that it is taking appropriate legal, scientific, technical, administrative, and financial measures to protect this heritage site and the animals that live there, including the vaquita.
All vaquita photos on this page by Thomas A. Jefferson from the joint research project with the Marine Mammals Research and Conservation Coordination of the National Institute of Ecology of Mexico. Photo obtained under permit No. DR7488708 of SEMARNAT (Mexican National Commission of Protected Natural Areas).
© WWF
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