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2026.11.06 16:23 GMT+8

AI-powered protection for China's 'giant pandas of the sea'

Updated 2026.11.06 16:23 GMT+8
CGTN

Chinese white dolphins, often dubbed the "giant pandas of the sea," are a first-class nationally protected species in China. Highly sensitive to changes in water quality, they are also considered an indicator of the health of their marine ecosystem. Xiamen, in southeast China's Fujian Province, is an important habitat for the species and the only city in China where the dolphins can be spotted in waters off its urban center.

Behind this remarkable coexistence between people and dolphins is an intelligent monitoring network serving as an "AI guardian" for these marine mammals.

A network of AI-powered cameras has been installed at key coastal locations across Xiamen. Equipped with remote zoom and rotation capabilities, the cameras monitor areas where dolphins are frequently spotted, reducing the need for patrol boats. Trained on vast amounts of collected data, AI algorithms can accurately identify the dolphins and generate activity heat maps, helping conservation teams better target their patrols and protection efforts.

So far, the system has recorded more than 1,100 dolphin sighting locations and detected 210 individual sightings, marking a major step forward in the use of smart technology for marine wildlife conservation. 

A Chinese white dolphin surfaces in the waters off Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, on July 15, 2024. /VCG

A Chinese white dolphin surfaces in the waters off Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. /The Ministry of Natural Resources

A Chinese white dolphin leaps out of the water off Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. /The Ministry of Natural Resources

A Chinese white dolphin leaps out of the water off Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. /The Ministry of Natural Resources

Several Chinese white dolphins chase and play in the waters in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. /The Ministry of Natural Resources

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