Vaquitas (Photo by William Shepard courtesy of World Wildlife Fund)

The Vaquita Marina (Little Sea Cow) is an exotic, and rarely seen, variety of dolphin uniquely native to Mexico. Identified by the dark spots on its eyes, the Vaquita is a small sea mammal weighing about 100 pounds with a length of four feet. The Vaquita lives in the fragile and specific habitat of the Northern gulf of  California where the Colorado empties into the sea.

Vaquitas killed in fishing nets (photo courtesy of www.sciencedaily.com)

Most of what has been learned about the Vaquita is based on the observation and study of dead specimens recovered in fishing nets. With about 65 documented live sightings, the species is critically endangered mainly because of its rarity. In fact, the species was only identified fifty years ago and was largely a mystery. But recently, filmmaker and photographer, Chris Johnson, of Whale Trackers caught some of the most amazing footage ever recorded of the beautiful Vaquita.

Two Vaquitas (picture courtesy of http://www.naturalhistorymag.com)

Tragically, the Vaquita Marina is expected to go extinct within the next two years unless drastic measures are taken. The good news is there are many people in Mexico, and the world, working to protect this amazing creature. Tourists boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling in the Gulf of California should be on the look out and may garner some notoriety if they can snap a photo of the ever elusive Vaquita.

Photos of the Vaquita are rare, but the Mexican government, along with the United States and Canada, are working to change that. Looking to the success of the Grey Whale’s protection program, environmentalists, with the help of fisherman, are looking to turn back the hands of extinction of the Vaquita.

Hoping for more live photos (photo courtesy of Barb Taylor)

Though most photos continue to be of dead Vaquitas, with the cooperation of environmental groups and the fishing industry, hopefully more live specimans will be observed. In October of 2008, fishing was again allowed in the northern gulf of California with restrictions.  A fisherman-approved Vaquita protection program is helping the species survive while allowing Mexican fisherman their livlihood. It is hoped that a  successful program will demonstrate how industries which require admittance into the wild can coexist with nature.