International Save the Vaquita Day – Saturday, July
11, 2015
This year,
Saturday, July 11, 2015 has been designated as the Third International Save the
Vaquita Day!! This is intended to be an
annual event similar to Earth Day, but with a specific focus on raising
awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the
vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Events
around the globe will direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny
porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction.
There will be booths, games, music, free prizes, educational brochures, talks,
face painting, and several life-size models of vaquitas on hand to draw
attention to and appreciation of the vaquita, Mexico’s “Panda of the Sea”.
The primary
goal is to make as many people as possible aware of the vaquita and its plight,
and spur them to act. The species is nearly extinct, with only about 50-80
individuals left, and is declining at about 20-30% per year! We will have
a simple message for folks about what they can do to help (support for the
Mexican Government’s gillnet ban, but pressure that the ban needs to be
permanent). The event is designed to be fun, as well as educational, and
kid-friendly!
This year,
there will be over 21 venues, in the United States, Mexico, Austria, and Hong
Kong. We also hope to attract media attention, so that the vaquita is
covered on national and local news, thereby greatly expanding the number of
people exposed.
Please check
our website regularly
<http://www.vivavaquita.org/international-save-the-vaquita-day.html> to
learn the latest on the activities planned and venue details. We hope you will attend (or better yet,
volunteer at) an event in your area.
Please support efforts to save the vaquita from extinction!
Tom Jefferson
/ VIVA Vaquita