The Yangtze finless porpoises lifted their heads out of the water to say hello to the French guests. 

A four-member delegation led by Mr. Olivier Guyonvarch, consul general of the Consulate General of France in Wuhan, paid a visit to Baiji Dolphinarium on September 17, 2018.    

With the company of Prof. MIAO Wei, deputy director of Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Dr. HAO Yujiang from the Research Group of Conservation Biology of Aquatic Animals, the French delegation watched the Yangtze finless porpoises breeding in the dolphinarium and the baby porpoise that was born this year.    

The mother porpoise F7 was very friendly to the visiting guests and for several times, she swam with her babies to the side of the breeding pool where the guests stopped to lift their heads out of the water to say hello.    

Prof. Miao introduced the overview of IHB and the cooperation between both sides over the past years.    

“We hope to cooperate with French institutes in water environment treatment and conservation of biological resources.” said Miao.   

Mr. Guyonvarch mentioned that next year will be the China-France Year of the Environment. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he hoped more exchanges of academics could be promoted between both sides.    

Towards the end of the visit, Prof. Miao sent a gift to the French guests and posed with them for a photo.  

Dr. HAO Yujiang introduced the conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoises to the French guests.

IHB's deputy director Prof. MIAO Wei sent a gift to Mr. Olivier Guyonvarch, consul general of the Consulate General of France in Wuhan.

A group photo of the French guests with IHB scientists.

(By MA Yun)