Finless porpoise is the last surviving mammal in China's Yangtze River after the extinction of the white Yangtze River dolphin.
But now, the species - commonly called river dolphin - is also facing extinction due to human impact – fishing with dynamite and electric current, draining of habitat, dredging, river traffic and pollution.
Chinese scientists believe the mammal – which has been around for twenty-five (25) million years - would be extinct in some fifteen (15) years if nothing is done to protect them.
Since January, more than twenty (20) river dolphins were found dead in China.
Post-mortems showed that most of them had starved to death and one was severely injured by a boat's propeller.
But now, the species - commonly called river dolphin - is also facing extinction due to human impact – fishing with dynamite and electric current, draining of habitat, dredging, river traffic and pollution.
Chinese scientists believe the mammal – which has been around for twenty-five (25) million years - would be extinct in some fifteen (15) years if nothing is done to protect them.
Since January, more than twenty (20) river dolphins were found dead in China.
Post-mortems showed that most of them had starved to death and one was severely injured by a boat's propeller.
Today only around one thousand (1,000) finless porpoises live in the Yangtze River, including around eighty (80) in Dongting Lake and some in Poyang Lake.
The river dolphin has long been considered a signal of coming storms.
River dolphins need to breathe fresh air through their lungs and when the air pressure falls ahead of a major storm, they jump out of the water and fishermen know it’s time to head home.
Their appearance also marks good fishing sites.
The river dolphin has long been considered a signal of coming storms.
River dolphins need to breathe fresh air through their lungs and when the air pressure falls ahead of a major storm, they jump out of the water and fishermen know it’s time to head home.
Their appearance also marks good fishing sites.
An adult male river dolphin can grow up to two (2) metres long and weigh as much as two hundred and twenty kilogram (220kg).
The mammal is highly intelligent and is said to have an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) as high as that of a chimpanzee.
Chinese fisheries authorities have taken emergency measures to protect finless porpoises including taking measures to reduce human impact, cracking down on illegal fishing, suspending all sand gathering activities for a few months and monitoring pollution discharge.
