New Hope for Baiji Dolphin Reported Extinct
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Reports from early August this year had stated that the Baiji Dolphin, a freshwater creature found only in China, had been classed as ‘likely to be extinct’ when none had been found after researchers had completed an in-depth 6 week study of the Yangtze River.
Had the Baiji’s been deemed to have vanished, it would have been the first extinction of a large vertebrate in more than 50 years.
Photo Benchilada
But the World Wildlife Fund informs us of new hope with a reported sighting of a Yangtze River Dolphin. A man from Tongling City in east China’s Anhui Province recorded ‘a big white animal’ with his video camera last month on August 19th. It was confirmed to be the Baiji Dolphin by Professor Wang Ding, a renowned scientist in Baiji study at the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This was the first reported spotting of the Baiji Dolphin in the Yangtze River since the scientific expedition last year.
“This sighting presents a last hope that the Baiji may not go the way of the dodo bird.” said Karen Baragona, Yangtze River Basin Program leader at World Wildlife Fund. “Other species have been brought back from the brink of extinction like the southern right whale and white rhinos, but only through the most intensive conservation efforts.”
WWF has been actively involved in the protection of aquatic mammals and their habitat in the Yangtze River. “WWF calls for immediate joint efforts to provide a living space for this beautiful animal, which is a key species indicating the health of its habitat — the Yangtze River. To be effective, efforts must address agriculture, water resources, transportation, environmental protection and sanitation to reduce human disturbance and protect the cetaceans in the river” said Baragona.
The World Wildlife Fund worked with other stakeholders last year in the completion of a plan for protection and action to improve the protection capacity of nature reserves.
“Protections will be implemented under the WWF program to conserve the Baiji and the Yangtze together with related stakeholders.” Baragona added.
AFP Photo – Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Expedition 2006
The expedition was coordinated by the Hydrobiology Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Yangtze Fisheries Resources Administration Commission and The baiji.org Foundation with support from WWF, American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Britain’s Zoological Society of London and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG).
Scientists boarded 2 ships, spending 39 days traveling a distance of nearly 2,100 miles (3,400 kilometers) between Yichang, Hubei Province and Shanghai along the river. Highly sophisticated equipment was used for the search expedition, during which researchers also conducted surveillance with high-precision telescopes and human eyesight.
About World Wildlife Fund
The World Wildlife Fund is known worldwide and recognized by its Panda logo. The WWF leads international efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats and to conserve the diversity of life on Earth. The global conservation organization works in more than 100 countries around the world.
Baiji Dolphin – Chinese River God August 8 2007
An international team of marine biologists announced that the Baiji Dolphin, which had inhabited a 1,700 kilometer area from Yichang to Shanghai, is likely to be extinct, and could be the first dolphin to be wiped out by human activity.
Tribute to the Goddess of the Yangtze
There may still be hope yet to prevent the fate of the Baiji’s extinction if we act now. There are less than 400 finless porpoises surviving in the Yangtze River, which could be saved from the same misfortune as the Baiji.
You can read more about the previous findings of the study for the Baiji Dolphin from our post on the expedition.
Related stories:
Rare River Baiji Dolphin Now Extinct
Pink Dolphins near Extinction
Read more about cetaceans conservation by WWF:
panda.org link 1
The Yangtze is not too far from where I’m living right now. (Chengdu area) And I plan to be visiting Chongqing in about 3 weeks. I’ll be taking the train from Chengdu to Chongqing and I understand the tracks run right alongside the Yangtze. I’ll bring my camera. If I’m lucky enough to spot a dolphin, I’ll send ya’ the pics.
Don’t hold your breath though deborah. They seem to be rare indeed.
Crossing my fingers for you Nitropuppy! I hope to see some pics from you even if you don’t
That’s very sad news Deborah…
I’m keeping my fingers crossed too !!!!!
i will havw my fingers crossed as well.
The baiji dolpins looks lovely, you don’t know how many people live by the Yangtze River, from Chongqing all the way to Shanghai, many of the cities have heavy industry. I hope the baiji dolpins can have a better living condition.