The Thailand delegation visited the Museum of Hydrobiological Sciences (Credit: IHB)

On the afternoon of December 10, 2024, General Tawatchai Chuansomboon, an Executive Committee of the Association of Researchers of Thailand (ART) and a member of the Committee on the Development of Science and Personnel (ARDA Public Organization) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, led an eight-member delegation to the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The visit facilitated a fruitful exchange of ideas and discussions on aquatic species protection and research.

During the meeting, IHB's Associate Prof. MEI Zhigang delivered a presentation titled Progress and its Enlightenment of Conservation of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise, providing an in-depth overview of the institute's recent advancements and practical experience in protecting the Yangtze finless porpoise. Dr. Nantarika Chansue, leader of the Thai delegation and professor at Chulalongkorn University, followed with a presentation titled Marine Mammals in Thailand: Species and Conservation, in which she shared Thailand's experiences and achievements in marine mammal conservation. She particularly highlighted the intention to draw on IHB’s successful conservation practices for the Yangtze finless porpoise to promote marine species protection in Thailand and expressed hopes for future joint international conferences on marine mammal research and conservation with IHB.

The delegation also visited the IHB’s Museum of Hydrobiological Sciences and the Baiji Dolphinarium, where they had the opportunity to closely observe specimens of rare aquatic species from the Yangtze River and engage with the Yangtze finless porpoises. The visit provided valuable insights into China's progress in protecting the Yangtze ecosystem, and the delegation expressed high appreciation for IHB's contributions, particularly in the ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River and the protection of the finless porpoise.

This visit not only strengthened mutual understanding between China and Thailand in the field of aquatic species conservation but also laid a solid foundation for future collaboration. Both sides look forward to further deepening cooperation and exchange in aquatic biology research and conservation.

Dr. Nantarika Chansue, leader of the Thai delegation and professor at Chulalongkorn University, gave a presentation titled Marine Mammals in Thailand: Species and Conservation. (Credit: IHB)

IHB's Associate Prof. MEI Zhigang delivered a presentation titled Progress and its Enlightenment of Conservation of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise. (Credit: IHB)