Efforts To Save Endangered Vaquita Porpoise End After One Dies In Captivity

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Experts say they have suspended effort to capture the few remaining vaquita porpoises in Mexico's Gulf of California after the one they managed to catch died quickly in captivity.

Lorenzo Rojas described what may be the last close contact between humans and the world's smallest porpoise, of which less than 30 remain. A half-dozen veterinarians struggled for three hours to resuscitate the female dolphin.

Rojas is the head of the international team of experts that tried to save the vaquita by catching some, enclosing them in floating pens and hopefully breeding them there.

He said the current round of rescue patrols will wind up Saturday and no further captures will be attempted this year.

Rojas said he doubts there will be enough vaquitas left next year to even attempt captures.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast rewritten or redistributed.)