Saving China's Finless Porpoise from the Brink of Extinction

China's freshwater dolphins, famously known as the finless porpoise, are on the verge of extinction.

In twenty years, the populous country's iconic species might be gone. Currently, there are only approximately 1800 left in the wild, which is a 40% decrease in the last three years alone. The primary threat to their survival is unintentional entanglement in fishing nets, accompanied by habitat fragmentation and poaching.

Conservation Efforts

Recognizing the alarming trajectory, Chinese officials and environmental groups are formulating new strategies to prevent this from becoming the first dolphin species to go extinct in modern times. Some initiatives include:

• Reducing the number of bycatch, or unintentional entanglement in nets.
• Expanding the protected areas to boost population growth.
• Creating an emergency response team to rescue and rehabilitate sick dolphins.
• Establishing ocean sanctuaries to safeguard their habitats.

International Collaboration

This conservation effort involves collaboration with international environmental organizations. Globally, dolphins are highly sought after for their intelligence and playful nature, making them popular attractions at aquatic parks.

However, capturing wild dolphins contributes to the extinction threat. International cooperation is crucial to persuade countries to refuse import permits for Chinese dolphins and encourage the rehabilitation and release of captive dolphins back into the wild.