The Yangtze River is one of the longest rivers in the world, and it is not only an important waterway, but also an important habitat for a variety of species, one of which is the Yangtze finless porpoise, which is the only freshwater finless porpoise species in the world. The Yangtze finless porpoise belongs to a family of cetaceans, and their habitat is facing many threats, so protecting them has become a top priority.
Freshwater cetaceans
The Yangtze finless porpoise, also known as the narrow-ridged finless porpoise, is a creature that is particularly capable of adapting to freshwater environments. It plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of the Yangtze River ecosystem, and as the world's only freshwater finless porpoise, it has attracted the attention of scientists and conservationists.
Unique features
As the name suggests, the narrow-ridged finless porpoise has no dorsal fin on its back, only a narrow ridge covered with verrucous nodules, unlike its marine relatives. The main characteristics of the Yangtze finless porpoise are a pronounced long mouth and large eyes on the head, gray on the back, and white on the belly. Finless porpoises feed mainly on fish and have a streamlined body shape that helps them swim quickly in the water. An adult finless porpoise can grow to more than 2 meters, weigh more than 100 kilograms, and live for about 20 years.
Habitat and distribution
The Yangtze finless porpoise is mainly distributed in the Yangtze River, which stretches for 6,300 kilometers and runs through China. In recent years, the distribution of the Yangtze finless porpoise has become more and more dispersed due to the impact of ecological damage, water pollution and increased human activities. At present, their range of activities is mainly distributed in the area from Ezhou to Nanjing, and from Yichang to Jingzhuoer. In addition, they have also been found in Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake.
The number has dropped dramatically
The finless porpoise is significant as a unique freshwater cetacean, but its future is not optimistic. Over the past few decades, the population of this species has been declining rapidly. In 1991 it was estimated at more than 2,500, but by 2006 it had plummeted to just 1,800. By 2012, researchers had observed only 505 heads in the main part of the river. Due to the sharp decline in numbers, the finless porpoise is listed as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The threat of the Yangtze finless porpoise
There are many reasons for the rapid decline of the finless porpoise population, the three main factors being shipping traffic, river dredging and noise caused by environmental pollution, as well as reckless fishing practices, which often cause them to be entangled in fishing nets and fishing gear, injuring or even dying, all of which are the main threats to the Yangtze finless porpoise.
Extinct baiji dolphin
The baiji dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer), a close relative of the Yangtze finless porpoise that once inhabited the Yangtze River, was declared functionally extinct in 2006, becoming the first dolphin species to become completely extinct due to human activities. The extinction of the baiji underscores the urgency of protecting the remaining populations, such as the finless porpoise, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the baiji dolphin.
Conservation measures
Despite the current dire situation, there is hope for the conservation of finless porpoises. In order to restore and enhance the population, active actions are being taken. It is worth noting that the Yangtze River Protection Law, which came into effect in 2021, specifically stipulates a complete ban on fishing activities in the main stream of the Yangtze River and its tributaries for the next 10 years. This is a significant move to create a more suitable ecological environment for the Yangtze finless porpoise to survive and reproduce by reducing human disturbance and fishing pressure, so as to achieve effective population recovery.
Protected areas and captive breeding programs
The establishment of protected areas plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining the Yangtze finless porpoise population. At present, 13 nature reserves have been established in the Yangtze River basin to protect the Yangtze finless porpoise, and the finless porpoise can grow and reproduce freely in the reserve. Since 1996, the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has successfully bred a limited number of finless porpoises.
Restore habitat connectivity
Restoring connectivity to the finless porpoise's habitat is a critical step in protecting the finless porpoise, which is currently overly fragmented, severely hampering their access to food and breeding opportunities. Reconnecting the lake to the main trunk of the Yangtze River to allow species to resume seasonal migration will not only benefit the finless porpoise, but also contribute to the recovery of the overall health of the ecosystem.
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