A cute smiling animal in the Yangtze River is facing extinction. It's the Jiangtun, a finless porpoise or river dolphin. It's said to have existed in the Yangtze River as far back as 25 million years ago. But their habitat has been deteriorating due to human activities in modern times. Now they are facing extinction. Fortunately, some selfless people have started to protect them, trying to break the curse of extinction for the beautiful animal. Our reporter Hu Chao brings us the story.

A lovely creature who always has a heartwarming smile, this is the Jiangtun, an endangered finless porpoise in the Yangtze River. Experts say there are only less than 1,000 of them and they might be extinct in just ten years. But some people have been doing everything they can to save the species. Xu Yaping is one of them.

XU YAPING CHIEF OF FINLESS PORPOISE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION YUEYANG, HUNAN PROVINCE "A baby dolphin is on the back of its mother. Did you see it?"

Xu fell in love with the animal decades ago when he often saw groups of them swimming in the river.

XU YAPING CHIEF OF FINLESS PORPOISE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION YUEYANG, HUNAN PROVINCE "It was spectacular then. And they looked adorable. But later I saw people killing and eating them. I felt so sad and decided to do something."

It's been seven years since Xu and his team started to protect the dolphins. And the number of team members has increased to around 200.

HU CHAO YUEYANG, HUNAN PROVINCE "Our boat is now moving along the eastern part of the Dongting Lake, which is part of the Yangtze River. It's the second largest freshwater lake in China. Today we are following Xu Yaping and his team on a daily patrol along the lake for any illegal activities that can harm Jiangtun. They've been patrolling like this from dawn till after dusk every day over the past 7 years."

A major job for Xu and his team is hunting for lethal electro-fishing. Besides harming the fish, it also disrupts the food chain of the river dolphins.

XU YAPING CHIEF OF FINLESS PORPOISE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION YUEYANG, HUNAN PROVINCE "This is a massive killing of adult and baby fish, leaving nothing for breeding, nothing for themselves and the next generation of people."

The risky job sometimes brings injuries. Once while on a daily patrol Xu suffered a bad fall that caused a bowel perforation. And their boat even capsized once.

HU CHAO YUEYANG, HUNAN PROVINCE "This is a life and death statement that Xu Yaping and some of his team members signed a few years ago. The statement reads that if any of them died in the fight to protect Jiangjun, those that lived will take care of his or her family."

XU YAPING CHIEF OF FINLESS PORPOISE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION YUEYANG, HUNAN PROVINCE "We've been determined to save the species at all cost. We take it as a bet and we are going to win the bet in ten years."

Now Xu's patrolling teams have become a vital force for protecting the river dolphins along the lake. Their work is attracting more people to join the efforts.

XU YAPING CHIEF OF FINLESS PORPOISE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION YUEYANG, HUNAN PROVINCE "My biggest wish is to save the smiles of the river dolphins."

Hu Chao, CGTN, Yueyang, Hunan Province.