Nanjing launches month-long campaign to protect Yangtze finless porpoise

Nanjing launched a month-long campaign to enhance the protection of the Yangtze finless porpoise, an iconic species in the country’s longest river Yangtze, on October 24, observed as the International Freshwater Dolphin Day.

The Yangtze finless porpoise, which is under top-level state protection, is an important indicator of the Yangtze River ecology. The campaign highlights the role of legislative efforts and will raise public awareness of the conservation of finless porpoise through programs both online and offline.

On November 12, Nanjing will invite representatives of the public, volunteers and photographers to join a watching program held at 12 sites where the species has been spotted frequently. Participants will also get a close look at the work of frontline researchers.

The Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Greening and Landscaping has unveiled the volunteer service bases for the species at Nanjing Normal University and Hohai University. A photography contest will also be held to promote environmental protection.

Among the eight nature reserves for the species in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing is home to the only one situating in downtown area. Zhang Jun, deputy director of the Nanjing reserve, said people nowadays can spot Yangtze finless porpoises more frequently after the 10-year fishing ban came into force, but more efforts are still needed to enhance the monitoring and rescue system of the species.

The Nanjing reserve has built a comprehensive and intelligent prevention and control system as well as an emergency rescue system for the species. It is also one of the first demonstration bases for endangered animal conservation recognized by the China Zoological Society.