Meet vaquita, the rarest marine mammal on Earth! 

Imagine seeing an animal that is so rare that you can't even identify what it is. You will end up wondering, “Is it a whale, a shark, or something else?” We are talking about vaquitas here. They are a very rare marine species of porpoise found at the Northern end of the Gulf of California in Baja California, Mexico. Once upon a time, thousands of these mammals lived in the warm Gulf of California. These tiny silvery porpoises were discovered in 1958 by marine zoologists Kenneth S. Norris and William McFarland and are already on the verge of extinction. According to some recently published figures, scientists believed that by the summer of 2018, there were fewer than 19 left in the entire world. 

Panda of the sea 
Vaquitas are sea mammals, just like dolphins, that can grow to a length of 5 feet and have a weight of 120 lbs. A smiling panda has been likened to the vaquita's distinctive facial features, which include a black ring around each eye and black curved lips. They have a white underside with light grey markings, and a dorsal (top) surface that is dark grey with pale grey sides. The iconic black rings that surround the eyelids have earned them their adorable nickname, ‘Panda of the Sea’. 

Smallest habitat range 
Unlike other marine creatures, the vaquita is a shy and solitary creature. They tend to avoid humans and are often difficult to spot. The habitat of the vaquita is limited to a narrow area of the upper Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez), making it the marine mammal species with the smallest habitat range. They inhabit shallow, murky waters no deeper than 150 metres (490 feet). They are frequently mistaken for dolphins due to their triangle-shaped dorsal fin that protrudes above the water due to their habitat in shallow seas. 

Factors driving extinction 
The main factors driving the possible extinction of theses reclusive marine mammals are the unsustainable and illegal fishing methods used for totoaba fish. Vaquita hunting is a collateral damage and are killed accidently in illegal gillnets used to catch totoaba fish. Gillnets are long, vertically hanging nets that are used to trap fish or other marine life. Scientists predict that up to 80 vaquitas drown in gillnets every year and warn that if this pattern continues, vaquitas might go extinct soon. According to Dr. Jacqueline Robinson of the University of California, even though this species is at the edge of going extinct, there are still chances that we can keep extinction at bay if we act soon. If they are given full protection, they stand a great chance of surviving over the next 50 years. However, protecting the vaquita won't be easy due to past conflicts between activists and villagers and tense diplomatic relations over the Mexican government's enforcement of fishing regulations.