Saving the Vaquita: Race Against Extinction

Vaquita is the smallest and rarest species, native to the Gulf of California

They have distinctive dark eye rings and dark patches on their lips

Vaquitas are critically endangered, with less than 10 individuals left in the wild

Illegal fishing activities, especially gillnets for totoaba fish, pose the greatest threat

Totoaba swim bladders are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine

Conservation efforts include banning gillnets and patrolling protected areas

Captive breeding programs aim to save the species from extinction

Scientists use acoustic monitoring to study vaquita populations and behavior