In the heart of WUHAN, China, a group of yangtze finless porpoises, numbering around a dozen, gracefully navigate a large enclosure at the Institute of Hydrobiology. Scientists are dedicated to safeguarding and propagating these rare mammals within ChinaS moast extensive river system.

The Yangtze River, a vital artery for commerce, ranks among the world’s busiest inland waterways, boasting 16 important ports. In 2024, the volume of cargo transported along the river exceeded 4 billion metric tons (4.4 billion U.S. tons), according to state media reports.

The finless porpoise serves as an indicator of the river’s ecological well-being. The population of this critically endangered species experienced a sharp decline, plummeting from over 2,500 in the 1990s to a mere 1,012 in 2017. This decline was attributed to factors such as pollution, heavy boat traffic, and unsustainable fishing practices that diminished their food sources, according to researchers.

This alarming trend spurred concern within the scientific community, including veteran researcher Wang Ding. In 2006, he spearheaded an international expedition to locate Baiji dolphins, another species teetering on the brink of extinction. Despite an extensive nine-day search, no dolphins were found, leading to the Baiji being declared functionally extinct.The last Baiji dolphin kept in captivity is now displayed in a museum alongside other rare aquatic creatures.

“We feared that if this animal cannot survive in the Yangtze, the other species will, like dominoes, disappear one by one from the river,” Wang said.

In response to the crisis, thorough conservation measures were implemented. The Yangtze River protection Law,enacted in 2021,imposed a 10-year ban on fishing,facilitated the relocation of factories,and prohibited the discharge of sewage and chemical runoff into the river. As a result, the population of Yangtze finless porpoises is showing signs of recovery, currently estimated at around 1,300 individuals.

Efforts to protect the Chinese sturgeon, another critically endangered species, have also been undertaken. Scientists have initiated artificial breeding programs, releasing thousands of these fish into the Yangtze in an attempt to revitalize the wild population.

Experts are advocating for the implementation of stricter regulations on shipping activities and for an extension of the existing 10-year fishing moratorium.

Conservation Efforts in the Yangtze: A Deeper Dive

“We feared that if this animal cannot survive in the Yangtze, the other species will, like dominoes, disappear one by one from the river,”