IUCN – SSC Cetacean Specialist Group

Critically Endangered

IUCN – SSC Cetacean Specialist Group / Critically Endangered (Page 6)
16 Dec 2016

Update on the Vaquita

In June 2016, we reported that the survey conducted in September–December 2015 had shown that only about 60 vaquitas were left (as detailed in the CIRVA-7 report). Despite valiant efforts by the Mexican government and NGOs, it clear that illegal gillnet fishing for totoaba, the...

19 May 2016

New film – “In search of Vaquita”

An excellent new film, called 'Almas del Mar Vermilion: En Búsqueda de la Vaquita Marina' in Spanish, which describes the story of the vaquita, its decline and its conservation  is available at this link:  https://vimeo.com/166899979 and with English subtitles: https://vimeo.com/166852669 // ...

17 May 2016

Mekong River dolphin update

Since the last news report on this website regarding Mekong River dolphins (posted 3 July 2014), the WWF-Cambodia team based in Kratie, working in collaboration with the Fisheries Department in Phnom Penh, have continued their valiant efforts to conserve and study this small, Critically Endangered...

13 Apr 2016

Vaquita Update: Three documented deaths in one month, not good

Three dead vaquitas were discovered and examined in the northern Gulf of California (Mexico) in March 2016: (1) a floating carcass found by researchers from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the Vaquita Refuge area on 4 March, (2) a carcass reported by phone to...

29 Feb 2016

December 2015 Vaquita Update

Members of the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita ​​(​CIRVA​)​ attending the Society for Marine Mammalogy​'s​ Biennial Conference in San Francisco took ​the opportunity​ to me​e​t briefly on ​16 December 2015. ​It was largely an informational meeting where participants received brief updates on several issues, including preliminary results of the 2015...

10 Dec 2015

Progress achieved on natural ex situ conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise

Provided by Professor Wang Ding on 8 December 2015 While ex situ conservation has been seen as an important strategy for endangered terrestrial animals, it is still controversial for cetaceans. The Critically Endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is the only freshwater porpoise population in...

08 Dec 2015

Update on Vaquita Survey

The following news article provides an update on the vaquita survey which just ended: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/nov/28/search-vaquita-gulf-california/?st...

21 Oct 2015

Vaquita sightings on Mexican Expedition inspire hope

Article prepared by Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho and Barbara Taylor, Chief Scientists of Expedicion Internacional Vaquita Marina 2015. The Government of Mexico has commissioned a new survey to find out how many vaquitas remain at the start of the emergency 2-year gillnet ban.  The survey was launched by...