More than 20 Yangtze finless porpoises have been spotted frolicking in the waters of Xiangyin County, Yueyang City, in central China’s Hunan Province. This sighting offers a hopeful sign for the conservation of this critically endangered species.
Photographer Yi Hui captured the playful mammals as they leaped and flipped through the river. “I was really excited when I photographed these Yangtze finless porpoises. They were flipping and jumping in the river, as if they were saying hello to me,” Yi expressed with enthusiasm.
The Yangtze finless porpoise, under top-level national protection in China, is endemic to the Yangtze River. Known as the “smiling angel” due to the distinctive grin-like shape of its snout, the species has been facing a gradual decline over the past decades. In 1991, there were approximately 2,500 individuals, but by 2017, numbers had dwindled to just over 1,000, according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
The decline has been attributed to factors such as overfishing, collisions with vessels, and habitat degradation. However, concerted conservation efforts and measures to protect the Yangtze River ecosystem have begun to reverse this trend.
In 2022, the fourth scientific expedition on the Yangtze finless porpoise, led by the ministry, revealed that the population has increased to 1,249, marking a rise of 23.4 percent. This increase is a testament to the effectiveness of the conservation initiatives implemented in recent years.
The recent sighting in Yueyang City not only brings joy to conservationists and locals but also underscores the importance of continued efforts to protect this unique species and its habitat. As the “smiling angels” return to the river, they symbolize a positive shift towards ecological restoration in the Yangtze River basin.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
