The Yangtze River finless porpoise species:
Affected by: Climate change , Habitat loss and fragmentation , Food & farming
The Yangtze river’s finless porpoise is one of the very few porpoises (relatives of dolphins and whales) that live in fresh water. Its small size and cute 'smile' make it much loved in China and beyond. But we need to prevent it going the same way as the functionally extinct Yangtze river dolphin, also known as the Baiji.
After years of rapid decline, the latest census shows that the population of the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise has remained almost stable in recent years – dropping very slightly to 1012 individuals from 1040 in 2012.
The porpoises are at risk from the same threats that the Baiji faced – including loss of food sources and boat collisions.
WHERE THE YANGTZE FINLESS PORPOISE LIVES
WHERE THE YANGTZE FINLESS PORPOISE LIVES
The Yangtze finless porpoise is found in the main Yangtze river channel in central and eastern China, and in two lakes, naturally connected to the river, in the central Yangtze - Dongting and Poyang.
Why the Yangtze finless porpoise is so important
Why the Yangtze finless porpoise is so important
Porpoises play an important role in keeping their environment healthy. They eat fish and other river creatures, which would otherwise increase in number and unbalance the local food chain.
Equally, porpoises are a good indicator of the health of their environment – if the river is overfished or polluted, the porpoises struggle to survive.
By protecting these porpoises we’re helping preserve healthy rivers and lakes – which a lot of people heavily rely on for food, provision of clean water and as source of livelihoods.
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© Edward Parker / WWF -
© Audra Melton/The Coca-Cola Company/ World Wildlife Fund
How we're helping the finless porpoise
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© Thomas Cristofoletti for WWF-UK 2014More Working with business to improve our freshwater
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© Justin Jin / WWF-USMore Protecting the Yangtze finless porpoise over 15 years
Here's how WWF is working with partners to prevent the extinction of the Yangtze River’s last remaining cetacean species: the Yangtze finless porpoise. -
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