Yangtze finless porpoises have been spotted frequently in the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River in east China's Jiangsu Province recently. Many residents in the city as Jiangsu's provincial capital have seen the scene of the beautiful creatures playing or leaping out of water.

The Yangtze finless porpoise is an endangered species under first-class state protection in China. Its presence is an important indicator of the ecological state of the Yangtze River, so the frequent appearances indicate a pleasant living environment in the Nanjing section.

"We have been conducting investigation and statistical analysis of the population of the Yangtze finless porpoise in the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River. Based on our findings in recent years, especially since 2017, there is a population of about 50 finless porpoises living steadily in the Nanjing section," said Yang Guang, vice chairman of Science and Technology Committee of China Wildlife Conservation Association.

Currently, Jiangsu Province has set up two provincial nature reserves for the Yangtze finless porpoise in the cities of Nanjing and Zhenjiang and has taken various measures to protect the creature.

"For some fishing boats passing through the reserve, we made some arrangements to adjust their routes," Yang said. "For construction activities that cross the reserve, like the river-crossing passage, we have also taken certain measures to keep them away from the waters of the reserve and reduce their impact on the Yangtze finless porpoises." 

In recent years, with the advancement of environmental protection efforts, the ecological environment along the Yangtze River has continued to improve. Conservation policies and regulation, including a 10-year fishing ban that started January 1, have been implemented in the Yangtze River basin covering provinces including Hunan, Hubei and Jiangsu.

(Cover image via CFP)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)