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Four Yangtze finless porpoises relocated to the Yangtze River
CGTN

Four Yangtze finless porpoises were relocated to the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province for the first time since China started ex-situ conservation of the species 30 years ago.

The four relocated Yangtze finless porpoises were all born in Tian'ezhou National Nature Reserve in central China's Hubei Province. Two of them were released into the Shishou section of the Yangtze River, and the other two were released into the Xinluo section of the Yangtze River. 

Yangtze finless porpoises wait to be relocated. /CCTV
Yangtze finless porpoises wait to be relocated. /CCTV

Yangtze finless porpoises wait to be relocated. /CCTV

Researchers will track them for the next three months, monitor their health status and evaluate their adaptability to the wild environment. The release of the Yangtze finless porpoises under ex-situ conservation aims to increase the population of the species and improve their genetic diversity. 

The Yangtze finless porpoise, which is under first-class state protection, is an important indicator of the Yangtze River ecology. According to the 2022 comprehensive surveys on the species, there were 1,249 Yangtze finless porpoises in the Yangtze River, which marks a significant rebound from 2017 when the figure stood at only 1,012.

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

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