The vaquita whale species has been forced to the brink of extinction due to illegal trafficking of Totoaba fish to China by organized crime. Crime organizations have hunted the fish, and killed many other species in the process, to sell the fisher's bladder to buyers in China for 4-5 thousand dollars apiece. Chinese buyers sell the bladders for up to 70k due because it is considered as a culinary delicacy and is thought to have special medicinal properties. There are only 8-10 vaquita whales left in the wild, and keeping them safe has just become nearly impossible because an international comittee just legalized the Totoaba trade, which increase the demand for the fish and increase the amount of fisherman casting nets in the Vaquita habitat. Click here to learn more.
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