• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
First extinction alert issued in 70 years to help rarest marine mammal on earth

Home> News> Animals

Published 16:12 8 Oct 2023 GMT+1

First extinction alert issued in 70 years to help rarest marine mammal on earth

As humanity continues to take its toll on the planet, experts now fear we could lose the world's smallest marine mammal.

Katherine Sidnell

Katherine Sidnell

The world’s smallest marine mammal is nearing extinction – with just ten left in the wild.

Experts are now so concerned that they’ve launched the first extinction alert in 70 years, as they fear that the animal will disappear from our waters.

This is despite efforts from local governments and a major A-Lister to bring the animal back from the brink.

The marine mammal is under threat.
Wikipedia Commons/Paula Olson

Advert

Found in the Gulf of California, the vaquitas are a type of small porpoise (similar to dolphins) and measure around 4 – 5ft (1.2m– 1.5m).

Though they are incredibly cute, the population has dropped from 570 in 1997 to around just 10 today, experts estimate.

It is thought that their sudden decline has been brought on by gillnets, a type of flat net used to illegally hunt for totoaba fish – which are then sold on the black market for traditional Chinese medicines.

Mexico has tried to crack down on the trade but, sadly, the number of vaquitas has continued to drop in recent years.

Advert

With the animal almost extinct, the IWC has made its first-ever extinction alert to raise awareness about the minute marine mammal.

In a statement, the commission said: “Despite nearly thirty years of repeated warnings, the vaquita hovers on the edge of extinction due to gillnet entanglement.”

Speaking about the disheartening update, Dr Lindsay Porter told The Guardian: “We wanted, with the extinction alert, to send the message to a wider audience and for everyone to understand how serious this is.”

Experts now fear there are just vaquitas left in the wild.
Wikipedia Commons/Paula Olson

Advert

The stark warning comes after several failed attempts to save the vaquitas, with authorities even teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio’s foundation.

Back in 2017, the A-Lister teamed up with authorities to help conserve the fragile ecosystem in and around Mexico’s waters.

At the time, he told fans: “Now more than ever, the world is looking for bold leadership at every level to tackle climate change and environmental conservation issues.”

Other conversation tactics included using navy-trained dolphins to locate the remaining vaquitas and an ambitious captive breeding programme.

Advert

Though $5 million was pledged to the VaquitaCPR project, it was abandoned after the sudden death of a female vaquita.

More recently, the Mexican government have tried to create a zero-tolerance area (ZTA) for gillnets, using 193 concrete blocks to prevent illegal fishing.

Experts suggest that there could be up to a 90 per cent decrease in hunting, giving a small glimmer of hope for the vaquitas.

Featured Image Credit: Greenpeace / BBC Earth

Topics: Animals, Nature, US News

Katherine Sidnell
Katherine Sidnell

Katherine is an entertainment journalist with a love of all things nerdy. Starting out writing Doctor Who fan fiction as a kid, she has gone on to interview the likes of Matt Damon, James May and Dua Lipa to name a few. Published in The Sun, The Daily Mail and Evening Standard - she now joins Ladbible as resident nerd in chief.

X

@ksidnell

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    93% rated Amazon Prime show had Stephen King labeling it 'really smart' as fans binge all three seasons

    Fans were blown away by the 'unique' show, which even got Stephen King's seal of approval

    Film & TV
  • 9 hours ago

    Coca-Cola responds after Donald Trump makes shocking claim he's changing the recipe

    Americans could soon be tasting a new version of Coke as President Donald Trump intervenes

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Donald Trump diagnosed with chronic vein condition after recent photos sparked health concerns

    The White House's physician has revealed that the 79-year-old received a chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner tragically dies during stunt aged 56

    Felix Baumgartner is fondly remembered for one particular impressive stunt

    News
  • Extinction alert issued for first time in 70 years for the world’s rarest marine mammal
  • Shocking update on dire wolves brought back from extinction reveal they more than doubled in size
  • Scientists claim to have brought back dire wolf from extinction for the first time in 10,000 years
  • Scientists baffled as orcas start wearing salmon as 'hats' again for the first time in 40 years