LIU Yu (L), deputy director of the Wuhan Municipal Government General Office, and XIE Shouqi, deputy director of IHB, unveiled the plaque for the Yangtze Cetacean Breeding and Conservation Center. (Credit: IHB)

The sixth annual "Finless Porpoise Love Month" campaign launched on June 22, 2026 in Wuhan, alongside the inauguration of a new breeding and conservation center for the Yangtze finless porpoise, a critically endangered species found only in China's longest river.

The center, located at the Guanqiao Campus of the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was renovated from the former enclosure of "Qiqi," a well-known captive finless porpoise. The facility covers 785 square meters and holds 1,100 cubic meters of water, with complete circulation every 1.5 hours. It includes three pool types for group housing, breeding, and rescue operations, equipped with an electric lifting platform and round-the-clock acoustic and behavioral monitoring systems.

The event was organized by IHB and the Wuhan Baiji Conservation Foundation (WBCF), with support from provincial and municipal agricultural authorities. Government officials attended the inauguration, which was presided over by XU Zhen, deputy director of IHB.

XIE Shouqi, deputy director of IHB, said the institute has led finless porpoise research for nearly five decades and will continue advancing breeding technologies, expanding the basin-wide monitoring network, and strengthening public education through the "Finless Porpoise Love Month" brand.

TANG Jichao, deputy director general of the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, noted that the finless porpoise's designation as Wuhan's official city mascot reflects the city's ecological progress.

HAO Yujiang, director of the Yangtze Cetacean Breeding and Conservation Center, presented a 30-year review of captive breeding achievements.

A publishing agreement was signed to produce a series of porpoise-themed books, aimed at promoting the species as a cultural icon for the city.

This year's campaign, themed " Powered by Science, Porpoises Leap in Wuhan," comes as the Yangtze River conservation initiative and the decade-long fishing ban continue to show results. Activities include live broadcasts by China Central Television, city-wide promotional campaigns on digital screens and waterfront light shows, and porpoise-themed classes at local schools and science outreach stations.

The center's completion marks progress in China's integrated system for captive breeding, scientific research, rescue, conservation and public education on the species, providing solid technological support for wild population recovery and endangered species conservation efforts.

Officials and guests jointly inaugurate the sixth "Finless Porpoise Love Month" at the ceremony. (Credit: IHB)

Officials and guests tour the newly inaugurated Yangtze Cetacean Breeding and Conservation Center. (Credit: IHB)