Documentary 'The Chinese White Dolphin' coming tonight

Offering a panoramic view of the Chinese white dolphin's living environment, its migration and its reproduction process, this documentary series shows how man and nature coexist in harmony. Join us for the Chinese Media Group (CMG) documentary "The Chinese White Dolphin."

The Chinese white dolphin is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is under first-class state protection in China. The dolphin's skin is dark gray when it is young and gradually turns white as it grows up. The reason the dolphin's skin appears pink is due to the vascular congestion under the skin when it is swimming.

Currently, there are approximately 6,000 Chinese white dolphins worldwide, with around 4,000 residing in China. Among them, 2,000 live in the Pearl River Estuary Chinese White Dolphin National Nature Reserve in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). This area is the largest habitat for Chinese white dolphins in the world

The first 4K ecological documentary forChinese white dolphins

In order to implement the ecological civilization concept, explore the ecological, scientific, and educational values of the habitat of Chinese white dolphins along the coast of China and express the story of harmonious coexistence between people and nature in the GBA, the 4K large-scale ecological documentary "Chinese White Dolphins" jointly produced by CMG, the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and the Zhuhai Municipal Committee will premiere on May 22 and May 23, 2024, at 9:10 pm on the CCTV Science and Education Channel, coinciding with the International Day for Biological Diversity which falls on May 22. It will be rebroadcast on June 5 and June 6 at 9:50 pm on the CCTV Social and Legal Channel, in celebration of World Environment Day. Additionally, the multi-language versions of the documentary will be simultaneously broadcast on CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian channels, as well as on its multilingual website and app, reaching audiences all over the world.

Three years, hundreds sea voyages, 20 experts

With strong support from authoritative organizations such as the Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Branch of the China Wildlife Conservation Association, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and various research institutions and universities, the production team of the documentary traveled to nearly 20 cities in China, the U.S., Sweden, the U.K., Thailand, and other countries. They sailed over 3,600 nautical miles at sea, capturing 120 terabytes of valuable footage.

During the three years, the production team recorded many vivid and interesting stories, including the unexpected encounter with Dr.Tom Jefferson, an American cetologist who met his wife while researching dolphins in Hong Kong SAR; got to know a fisherman from Zhuhai who engaged in mental battles with white dolphins; and the story of a white dolphin mother who, despite suffering severe injuries, resiliently lived for over 20 years and gave birth to three calves.

The film crew used cameras to capture precious images of Chinese white dolphins and their nocturnal hunting activities. They documented the daily lives of fishermen from Guangxi and Guangdong who live intimately with the white dolphins. They also recorded the Chinese government's responsibility and commitment to protecting Chinese white dolphins and the marine environment. This documentary also showcases the relentless efforts and dedication of the builders of the GBA and a team of 20 scientists over decades to study and protect Chinese white dolphins.

Assistance of the CMG's independently developed stabilized platform

In order to capture the agile beauty of the Chinese white dolphin with high quality, the production team used CMG's independently developed heavy-duty gyroscopic stabilized platform for the first time. This allowed for stable shooting with 86x zoom and 400 frames per second at 4K resolution on the open sea, enabling precise capture of details such as the dolphins' gaze, body shape, and leaping posture.