Rare Footage of the Elusive Vaquita by © 2008 Chris Johnson - earthOCEAN (All Rights Reserved) This video can be found at www.whaletrackers.com.

The vaquita is considered the most endangered marine mammal in the world. It is one of the six species of porpoises in the world. Porpoises are relatives of whales and dolphins, together the three are known as cetaceans. The only place on Earth that the vaquita is found is in the northern Gulf of California. Their current population is estimated to be less than 200 individuals. The greatest threat to these shy mammals is getting caught in fishing nets where they drown because they can not reach the surface to breath. Shrimp trawlers and gill nets are their mortal enemy. La vaquita means "little cow" in spanish.

Rare photo of the elusive Vaquita by © 2008 Chris Johnson - earthOCEAN (All Rights Reserved) This photo and more can be found at www.whaletrackers.com.

• Use the Southwest Seafood Watch Guide from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

• Help spread the word about the plight of the Vaquita by wearing a cool shirt or earrings with their image. Available from the Intercultual Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans, also known as CEDO from their Eco Shop.

Video and Photo Credit: © 2008 Chris Johnson - earthOCEAN (All Rights Reserved) This video can be found at www.whaletrackers.com.

Photos and video taken under permit (Oficio No. DR/847/08 ) from the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP/Secretaría del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT), within a natural protected area subject to special management and decreed as such by the Mexican Government. This work was made possible thanks to the collaboration and support of the Coordinador de Investigación y Conservación de Mamíferos Marinos at the Instiuto Nacional de Ecología (INE).