The Yangtze finless porpoise population is showing promising signs of recovery in the Nanjing Yangtze Finless Porpoise Provincial Nature Reserve, according to the Nanjing municipal forestry and parks bureau in east China’s Jiangsu Province. Officials announced on Thursday that 65 of these rare porpoises were observed during a survey period from autumn 2023 to summer 2024.
This marks an increase from the approximately 62 porpoises recorded in the 2022 background resources survey. During the latest survey, mother and baby porpoises were spotted nine times, indicating successful breeding and a positive growth trend for this critically endangered species in the reserve.
Known as the “smiling angels” of the Yangtze River due to their characteristic grins, the finless porpoise is a key indicator of the ecological health of China’s longest river. The increase in their numbers reflects the effectiveness of ongoing conservation efforts aimed at restoring the river’s natural biodiversity.
Conservationists and local communities are optimistic about the future of the species. Continued efforts in habitat protection, pollution control, and sustainable development are expected to further enhance living conditions for the finless porpoises and other native wildlife in the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
