As the most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita’s numbers have dwindled to fewer than 20 individuals. The natural curiosity to see these rare creatures up close might lead one to…
Are vaquitas dolphins or whales?
Vaquitas, known scientifically as Phocoena sinus, are neither dolphins nor what you commonly call whales, but they do belong to the same group of marine mammals, known as cetaceans. Vaquitas…
Can vaquitas be kept in captivity?
With fewer than 20 individuals estimated to be left in the wild, the question of whether to keep vaquitas in captivity has been a matter of debate among conservationists and…
CIRVA
CIRVA is an acronym for Comité Internacional para la Recuperación de la Vaquita (International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita). CIRVA is an international team of scientists established by…
Do vaquita have any natural predators?
Vaquita do have some natural predators in the wild. They include large marine species such as sharks and killer whales (orcas). Sharks found in the Gulf of California, such as…
How do researchers look for and “count” vaquita?
Researchers combine visual surveys and passive acoustic monitoring to estimate the dwindling vaquita population, but despite their best efforts, pinpointing an exact number remains an ongoing challenge. Their elusive nature…
How do you pronounce the word “vaquita”?
The vaquita has a name that may leave some people scratching their heads about its pronunciation. Fear not, cetacean enthusiasts, for we have the answer to your linguistic conundrum! The…
How is the vaquita adapted to its habitat?
Several physical and behavioral traits have evolved to help the vaquita survive in this dynamic and biodiverse environment: Camouflaged coloring: Vaquitas have a distinctive color pattern, with a dark gray…
How many Vaquitas are left in the world in 2023?
The most recent assessment by the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA) presents a sobering outlook on the vaquita’s dwindling population. In 2018, CIRVA estimated that a…
Is the vaquita a dolphin?
When you look at a vaquita (or any of its porpoise cousins), you might be forgiven for thinking that they might “just” be small dolphins. And while they are related,…