IHB presents a theme activity to the public at Baiji Dolphinarium, July 5, 2021. (Credit: IHB)

The first finless porpoise care month officially came to the end on July 5, 2021, with the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences presented a theme activity – scientists narrate stories of the breeding of the Yangtze finless porpoise, to the public.    

Associate Prof. HAO Yujiang first gave a presentation on the breeding technology of Yangtze finless porpoise. “Tao Tao is 16 years old. It is the first Yangtze finless porpoise to be born in captivity”, Hao said.    

“So far, three finless porpoises have been born and live in the Baiji Dolphinarium. YYC, the baby finless porpoise born on June 3, 2020, was confirmed to be Tao Tao's offspring by paternity test. It is now 13 months old.”    

Prof. WANG Kexiong said in his closing remarks that the Yangtze finless porpoises are the indicator of the ecological health of the Yangtze. The porpoises used to be seen in the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River, but over the past decade, as the decreasing number of the finless population, it’s hard to see them in this section.    

To unveil the mystery of the finless porpoise to the public, a pop-up exhibition was held on the Jiangchen Paradise Walk Street as another part of the activity.    

There were people taking photos with the porpoise puppets and sharing the photos on their social media platforms. There were kids drawing pictures of the porpoises.    

The finless porpoise care month attracted the attention of the public, and shared the latest progress in the artificial breeding of the Yangtze finless porpoises.    

In November 2020, the local government of Wuhan launched a campaign to help the finless porpoises return to the city. As part of the campaign, IHB organized four activities to boost public awareness about the importance of protecting the endangered species.  

ZHANG Bo, deputy director general of Wuhan Ecological Environment Bureau, gives a apeech for the theme activity held at Baiji Dolphinarium. (Credit: IHB)

Associate Prof. HAO Yujiang first gives a presentation on the breeding technology of Yangtze finless porpoise. (Credit: IHB)

Prof. WANG Kexiong gives closing remarks for the theme activity held at Baiji Dolphinarium. (Credit: IHB)

YANG Jun, vice mayor of Wuhan, visits Baiji Dolphinarium, July 5, 2021. (Credit: IHB)

People stay underwater and watch the lovely Yangtze finless porpoise YYC through windows. (Credit: IHB)

To unveil the mystery of the finless porpoise to the public, a pop-up exhibition is held on the Jiangchen Paradise Walk Street as another part of the activity. (Credit: IHB) 

A researcher from IHB introduces the facts of the Yangtze finless porpoise to the public. (Credit: IHB)