IHB set up a research base in the provincial natural reserve of Yangtze finless porpoises located at the boarder of Hewangmiao, Jianli, Hubei province and Jicheng, Huarong, Hunan province.   

Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of Chinese Academy of Sciences set up a research base in the provincial natural reserve of Yangtze finless porpoises located at the boarder of Hewangmiao, Jianli, Hubei province and Jicheng, Huarong, Hunan province.    

IHB will further strengthen the close cooperation with the reserve after the establishment of the base, said XIE Shouqi, deputy director of IHB. “We will actively explore new measures to protect the Yangtze finless porpoises and help upgrade the management of the reserve, thus take our responsibility to the protection of the Yangtze River.”   

“It’s an effective approach to protect the endangered species,” said YANG Jinyong, vice county mayor of Jianli, on the establishment of the base. HUANG Jianming, vice county mayor of Hurong, expressed their willingness to support IHB’s research in the reserve.    

The Hewangmiao/Jicheng Natural Reserve of Yangtze Finless Porpoise was approved to be established in 2015 by Hubei and Hunan Province. IHB has been giving technical support to the reserve. At present, the number of finless porpoises in the reserve has been increased from 12 to 18, showing a preliminary success of the ex-situ conservation in the reserve.    

It is estimated that in the next five years, the number of finless porpoises in the reserve is expected to reach 25 to 30 which indicates a rapid growing period.