Yangtze Finless Porpoise

 

The Yangtze finless porpoise is a freshwater porpoise native to the Yangtze River in China. They are known for their high intelligence and extremely playful nature. Unlike many other porpoises, the Yangtze finless porpoise lacks a dorsal fin and has an extremely sleek appearance with a round head. Unfortunately, only around 1000 Yangtze finless porpoises are left in the world (WWF).

In the Yangtze River, these finless porpoises are apex predators and are crucial to maintaining the balance of aquatic life along the Yangtze River. They are a keystone species and if they are to go extinct then the balance of the food web would be disrupted and the ecosystem would start to collapse.

There are a multitude of reasons that have led to the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoises. Some of the most prevalent reasons include habitat degradation, pollution, overfishing, and boat traffic.

If Yangtze finless porpoises were to go extinct completely the balance of the entire Yangtze River ecosystem would be thrown off and likely the ecosystem would entirely collapse. In Cincinnati, we should be concerned about this as it sets a precedent for other animals that are keystone species in their small region to go extinct.

One of the most effective conservation measures that is being taken right now is setting up reserves for these finless porpoises to live in throughout the Yangtze River. Above is a map of where these reserves are located. The Chinese government has also laid down heaver regulations as to where waste can be disposed of as to limit the pollution that is put into the river.

Geospatial tools can aid the conservation of Yangtze finless porpoises greatly as GIS can be used to map out the river and to visualize where reserves can be placed to reach their maximum amount of effectiveness. GPS could also be extremely helpful as GPS trackers can be attached to these porpoises to monitor where they go and what areas are most important to them.

Ways that you can help the Yangtze finless porpoises:

Monetary Donations: Donate to organizations that are dedicated to conserving endangered animals to make sure that they do not go extinct such as the World Wildlife Fund, International Union for Conservation of Nature, or local Chinese conservation groups like the Wuhan Baiji Conservation Foundation or the Yangtze Environmental Specimen Bank.

Volunteering: Volunteer at conservation groups near the Yangtze River region. This is not limited to physically helping clean up the river or helping the finless porpoises directly, as conservation work includes community education, social media campaigns, and data collection.

Responsible Seafood Consumption: Eat ethically and sustainably sourced seafood to avoid supporting fishing methods that are harmful to the environment. 

Educate Others: Share information like this with other people that you know to educate them and make them aware of this dire situation. Many people would care and take more action than they are right now simply if they knew the extent to which the Yangtze finless Porpoises are threatened.

Eco-friendly Lifestyle Choices: Lower your carbon footprint and waste output to reduce the amount of pollution that is created and then released into places like the Yangtze River. Some specific ways that you can do this are by reducing gas car usage, supporting renewable energy sources, and being mindful of your consumption habits.