Navy Dolphins Help Track Vaquitas

US Navy dolphins are on a unique mission in the Gulf of California.  The trained marine mammals are tracking vaquitas, Phocoena sinus, the critically endangered small porpoise endemic to the norther Gulf of California, so they can be captured and taken to sanctuary until their natural habitat is made safe for them to return. [photo courtesy NOAA] The Mexican government is undertaking the task on the advice of experts who believe the vaquita, whose population has been reduced 90%, is on the edge of extinction in the wild.

A Center for Biological Diversity spokesman said the vaquita's home will not be safe until the government eliminates gill netting in the northern Gulf.  A permanent ban was instituted two years ago, but illegal netting for the totoaba continues. {28.03.16} Vaquitas are also ensnared in the nets and drown. The Mexcian government has committed $100 million to the effort to save the vaquita and compensate fishermen for lost income. Captured vaquita will be confined in pens in the Gulf until they can be released to the wild again.  The last resort operation is risky since no vaquita has been captured alive to date, and it is uncertain whether they can survive and reproduce while confined.  Experts think the risks are worth taking since the vaquita has no known extant relatives and therefore represents proportionately more of the tree of life than other marine mammals. (an EDGE specie)    If it the capture project works it may be a model for rescuing other critically endangered species.