The fourth Finless Porpoise Care Month was launched today in Wuhan on June 1, 2024.

The fourth Finless Porpoise Care Month was launched today in Wuhan on June 1, 2024, accompanied by the heartfelt singing of "The Song of the Yangtze River" by children. This year’s event, themed “City of Smiles, Safeguarding the Future of Cetaceans,” marks a significant expansion in conservation efforts, now including the Chinese white dolphin and Bryde's whale for the first time. 

In his opening remarks, XIE Shouqi, deputy director of the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized the broadening of conservation efforts from Yangtze River cetaceans to cover China’s native freshwater and marine cetaceans. This reflects China’s comprehensive commitment to both freshwater and marine ecosystem protection. 

From early research and conservation of the baiji dolphin to the current focus on the Yangtze finless porpoise, and now extending to the Chinese white dolphin and Bryde's whale, IHB and the Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Foundation have consistently led China’s cetacean conservation initiatives. Xie expressed hope that through public education, scientific collaboration, and other diverse methods, Finless Porpoise Care Month will continue to deepen public awareness of cetacean protection and inspire broader societal support for the Yangtze River and marine environments, ensuring lasting vitality for Wuhan, the “City of Smiles.” 

Associate Prof. MEI Zhigang, deputy secretary-general of the Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Foundation, introduced a new acoustic-optical monitoring technology for the Yangtze finless porpoise. This technology has already shown significant results during the 2022 Yangtze finless porpoise ecological survey and has been successfully implemented in the Poyang Lake and Nanjing monitoring systems. It is currently in use along the Xinzhou section of the Yangtze River in Wuhan, where it is performing well.

Two new publications, A Guide to Cetacean Rescue in China and The Story of the Finless Porpoise, were unveiled during the event. These books represent significant achievements in the protection of China’s native cetaceans and serve as essential educational tools to spread knowledge about cetacean conservation, especially among young readers. 

Additionally, the iWuhan-iYangtze Finless Porpoise dual-platform for digital city and lifestyle services was launched at the event. A series of Wuhan city gifts featuring Yangtze finless porpoise sculptures and 26 winning entries from the "Digital Yangtze Porpoise" creative competition were also presented. 

June is the peak breeding season for the wild Yangtze finless porpoise, a critical time when mother-calf pairs are in greatest need of protection. In June 2021, IHB and the WBCF launched the “Finless Porpoise Care Month—Supporting the Return of the Finless Porpoise to Wuhan” initiative, which has since become a well-known brand for Yangtze finless porpoise conservation and the promotion of Yangtze River ecological culture.

XIE Shouqi, deputy director of the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized the broadening of conservation efforts from Yangtze River cetaceans to cover China’s native freshwater and marine cetaceans. 

Associate Prof. MEI Zhigang, deputy secretary-general of the Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Foundation, introduced a new acoustic-optical monitoring technology for the Yangtze finless porpoise.

The new publication, The Story of the Finless Porpoise, was unveiled during the event.

The new publication, A Guide to Cetacean Rescue in China, was unveiled during the event.