The last vaquitas on Earth are crying out for help. Less than 10
of the most endangered sea mammals are left
and without urgent action they’ll be gone
in the blink of an eye.
These adorable creatures are getting trapped in massive
underwater walls of netting as they swim about the
ocean, slowly and painfully choking to death.
But our amazing partners are working flat out to give the last
vaquitas a fighting chance at survival – and we can help!
They urgently need cash to buy specialist equipment like
hydrophones to help local fishers monitor the vaquitas, train dive
and rescue teams to remove gillnets, and untangle wildlife. It
would save vaquitas from certain death. But our
partners can’t do it alone.
Can you chip in to save the last vaquitas and help us defend
nature?
I'll donate $3I'll donate $4 I'll donate $5I'll donate $9I'll donate another amount
Vaquitas, the ocean’s “little cows”, are one of the smallest and
shyest ocean mammals, known for their distinctive markings that make
them look like they’re smiling – and their adorable pig-like
snorts!
Tragically, no other species on the planet has fallen so far, so
quickly. Estimates put the number of vaquitas as low as just
eight individuals, the last remaining survivors of a brutal
fishing industry in Mexico’s Upper Gulf of California. Even in such
tiny numbers, their presence is vital to balancing the fragile
marine ecosystem they're a part of. By saving the vaquitas, we’re
also saving countless other species that are dependent on the
vaquita for their own survival.
But there is a glimmer of hope for these resilient fighters
– scientists say their genetic health is strong, meaning that
the vaquita has every chance to bounce back if illegal and deadly
fishing practices stop now.
Our partners are already making incredible progress with locals
who hold sway in their communities to convince fishers to use
vaquita-friendly nets instead of gillnets – and our community helped
power this vaquita-saving work! But now they need to go further,
faster, getting buy-in from more fishers by training them to monitor
the waters for vaquita activity, learn about alternative fishing
methods, and remove these underwater death traps before it’s too
late.
All of this – equipment, training, boats – takes money,
which is where we come in. Together, we could be part of saving this
fragile species from extinction but only if we move fast!
Can you chip in to save the last vaquitas and help us power
other community projects like this one?
I'll donate $3I'll donate $4 I'll donate $5I'll donate $9I'll donate another amount
Your donation will help power Ekō
and our campaigns worldwide fighting for people and the
planet.
