How a Yangtze sanctuary protects an entire ecosystem

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A view of the landscape within the Tongling River Dolphin National Nature Reserve. /CGTN

A Yangtze finless porpoise in the protected waters of the Tongling River Dolphin National Nature Reserve. /CGTN

A wild bird spotted at the Tongling River Dolphin National Nature Reserve. /CGTN

Visit the Tongling River Dolphin National Nature Reserve in Anhui Province, and you’ll find more than just Yangtze finless porpoises. Its riverbanks and sandbars are also teeming with birdlife.

This thriving biodiversity is no coincidence. The reserve has a dual mission: to protect rare aquatic mammals like the porpoise, and to safeguard the surrounding wetland birds and the broader Yangtze freshwater ecosystem.

It’s an example of what ecologists call the “umbrella species effect.” By creating a safe, well-managed habitat for a flagship species like the finless porpoise, protection naturally extends to the fish, aquatic plants, and migratory birds that share its waters.

In Tongling, safeguarding the porpoises, who are nicknamed the “smiling angels” of the Yangtze, ultimately means protecting an entire web of life.

Swipe through the gallery to meet the wildlife that calls this protected ecosystem home.

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Beyond the porpoise: How a Yangtze sanctuary protects an entire ecosystem