News

World's smallest cetacean on the brink

Friday 26th June 2009

image: Vaquita as bycatch, being hauled in by a fisherman
Vaquita as bycatch, being hauled in by a fisherman

The recent twin crises of economic problems and swine flu in Mexico may be threatening plans to save the worlds smallest and most endangered cetacean, the vaquita. Confined to a small area of the Gulf of California, this tiny, Critically Endangered marine mammal is thought to number only around 150 individuals, and is declining rapidly. An estimated 30 individuals are killed each year through becoming entangled in fishing nets. Without urgent action, the vaquita is likely to soon go the way of another small cetacean, the baiji, or Yangtze river dolphin, believed to be the first cetacean to become extinct as a result of human activity.

The Mexican government, together with various conservation organisations and donors, has been working in the region to remove illegal fishing vessels. In addition, around 400 legal vessels have taken funding from the government to either leave the industry or to switch to vaquita-friendly fishing gear. However, funding for the programme has now been significantly cut in light of the countrys economic problems, leading to fears that the vaquita will not receive the protection it so urgently requires.

With a recent study suggesting that a fifth of the worlds dolphin, porpoise and whale species could become extinct as a result of climate change, and with many more under threat from various human activities, the need to protect species such as the vaquita is as great as ever. A recent report by WWF, entitled The Forgotten Whales, has highlighted the problems of a lack of knowledge and conservation measures aimed at small cetaceans such as the vaquita. If appropriate action is not taken, more of these beautiful but little-known species may soon be lost forever.

A number of small cetacean species appear on the IUCN Red List and are in urgent need of conservation action, including:

Boto (Inia geoffrensis)

image: Boto breachingAlso known as the Amazon River dolphin, the boto, like many small cetaceans, is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN. Although threatened by the continued development and damming of its river systems, as well as through bycatch in fishing nets and collision with boats, tourism may provide a way to preserve this somewhat bizarre-looking dolphin in the future.

Baiji (Lipotes vexillifer)

image: Baiji at water surfaceWith the grim distinction of being the first cetacean to disappear as a result of human activity, the baiji was declared Possibly Extinct in 2007. Ironically once revered by the fishing people of the Yangtze River, a range of devastating human pressures appear to have finally led to the sad demise of this species.

Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)

image: Irrawaddy dolphinAlthough currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, five subpopulations of the Irrawaddy dolphin are considered Critically Endangered. Of most concern is the population in the Mekong River, with as few as 64 individuals left in Cambodia and Laos. Since 2003, 88 dolphin deaths have been recorded, with toxic levels of mercury, pesticides and other pollutants thought to have weakened the dolphins immune systems, leading to fatal infections.

Hectors dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori)

image: Hector's dolphin podConfined to shallow coastal waters of New Zealand, Hectors dolphin is vulnerable to a range of threats including bycatch, pollution, boat traffic and habitat modification. This tiny marine dolphin is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, but various conservation actions are underway in New Zealand to try and bring it back from the brink.

Visit MyARKive to view a selection of images and videos in the Endangered Small Cetaceans scrapbook.

Further information

To find out more about the conservation of cetaceans see:



Archived news items

Wednesday 27th October 2010
IUCN study confirms vertebrate extinction crisis

Wednesday 20th October 2010
Rat eradication planned for Pacific island

Wednesday 13th October 2010
WWF Releases its Living Planet Report 2010

Thursday 30th September 2010
One in five plant species under threat

Monday 20th September 2010
‘Asian unicorn’ found in Lao PDR

Tuesday 14th September 2010
Turtles In Trouble

Thursday 19th August 2010
Rare giraffe added to IUCN Red List

Wednesday 11th August 2010
Search begins for the world's 'lost frogs'

Monday 9th August 2010
New species of titi monkey discovered in Colombia

Friday 30th July 2010
Elusive carnivores photographed in Sabah

Tuesday 20th July 2010
Mysterious primate caught on camera for the first time

Wednesday 7th July 2010
Rescue Plan for Endangered Sea Turtles

Thursday 24th June 2010
National Insect Week

Thursday 17th June 2010
Have a 'Wild Night In' with the BBC

Monday 14th June 2010
ARKive's World Cup Dream Team

Wednesday 2nd June 2010
Mystery disease kills 12,000 saiga antelope

Thursday 27th May 2010
BirdLife releases update on the status of the world’s birds

Saturday 22nd May 2010
World celebrates biodiversity

Friday 7th May 2010
ARKive Education needs your views

Thursday 22nd April 2010
World celebrates Earth Day 2010

Friday 26th March 2010
Earth hour 2010 - Surviving in the dark

Thursday 18th March 2010
Europe's Insects at Risk from Habitat Loss

Friday 5th March 2010
Abu Dhabi wildlife photography exhibition

Wednesday 24th February 2010
Primates in Peril

Thursday 11th February 2010
Sir David Attenborough launches ARKive's 'Most Wanted' 2010 Challenge

Thursday 21st January 2010
365 days of biodiversity

Monday 14th December 2009
IUCN releases climate change hit list

Tuesday 3rd November 2009
2009 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Extinction crisis continues

Monday 19th October 2009
ARKive dives deeper for digital imagery

Monday 5th October 2009
ARKive working with STERNA to create access to European digital collections

Friday 16th September 2009
ARKive's UAE Wildlife Photography Competition - Winner Announced

Friday 4th September 2009
BBC's Last Chance to See

Wednesday 19th August 2009
Giant carnivorous plant discovered in Philippines

Wednesday 1st July 2009
Celebrating Darwin

Wednesday 17th June 2009
New havens for the Hawaiian monk seal

Monday 8th June 2009
World Oceans Day 2009

Wednesday 3rd June 2009
Research reveals jaguar secrets

Thursday 21st May 2009
Komodo dragon found to be venomous

Friday 15th May 2009
The United States celebrates Endangered Species Day

Thursday 14th May 2009
More birds threatened with extinction than ever before

Friday 8th May 2009
Released pygmy hogs alive and well

Wednesday 29nd April 2009
Shark finning crackdown

Wednesday 22nd April 2009
World celebrates Earth Day 2009

Wednesday 15th April 2009
Intrepid scientists discover new orang-utan population on Borneo

Wednesday 1st April 2009
Rapid response helps the sociable lapwing

Friday 27th March 2009
ARKive works with WWF to promote Earth Hour

Friday 20th March 2009
Deadly fungus strikes mountain chicken

Wednesday 11th March 2009
Explore ARKive's threatened marine species using Google Earth

Monday 23rd February 2009
Good news for Critically Endangered parrot

Monday 2nd February 2009
Find ARKive's threatened marine species using Google Earth

Thursday 29th January 2009
Mysterious penguin decline

Friday 16th January 2009
An important message from the DNA of an extinct marsupial

Wednesday 7th January 2009
Wildscreen chairman receives OBE

Monday 15th December 2008
Albatross under threat from predatory mice

Monday 8th December 2008
Conservationists battle to save the gharial from extinction

Tuesday 18th November 2008
ARKive Photographers Feature at UK’s Largest Natural History Photography Symposium

Monday 6th October 2008
2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

Wednesday 3rd September 2008
International partnership takes Wildscreen's work to the United Arab Emirates

Wednesday 27th August 2008
Newly discovered monkey clings to survival

Wednesday 13th August 2008
A whale of a recovery

Friday 8th August 2008
China under the spotlight

Thursday 31st July 2008
New light shed on the ocean depths

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
Half of Philippine fauna nearly extinct

Wednesday 16th July 2008
One third of reef-building corals face extinction

Thursday 10th July 2008
New Natural Wonders added to the World Heritage List

Thursday 3rd July 2008
Rare white-tailed eagle spotted in Northern Ireland

Monday 23rd June 2008
National Insect Week

Friday 13th June 2008
Fishermen help protect Indian Ocean albatrosses

Tuesday 3rd June 2008
The return of Cambodia's wildlife

Thursday 22nd May 2008
International day for biological diversity

Wednesday 14th May 2008
Koalas at risk from climate change

Thursday 1st May 2008
Time is running out for Asian vultures

Tuesday 22nd April 2008
Migrating birds in decline

Friday 11th April 2008
Wildscreen's Patron Sir David Attenborough launches ARKive layer on Google Earth

Tuesday 25th March 2008
WWF reports that Australian wildlife is under pressure

Wednesday 12th March 2008
Tiger numbers 'halve in 25 years'

Tuesday 26th February 2008
South Africa lifts the ban on culling elephants