John,

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.