Two swimming finless porpoises in Poyang Lake

On March 27, the ex-situ conservation action of Yangtze finless porpoise with the propagation and releasing of hydrobiology have been launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as the people’s government of Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi province. Four finless porpoises moved from Poyang Lake to Hunan, the Ji Chengyuan (Hewang Temple) finless porpoise protection area between the water area of Huarong in Hunan and Jianli in Hubei.

The old way of Ji Chengyuan (Hewang Temple) finless porpoise protection area was an artificial way which has been cut out from Yangtze River in 1968. It has vast territory, advantageous natural condition, various hydrobiology, and abundant bait resources, which is a historical habitat for Yangtze finless porpoise, Chinese sturgeon, paddlefish, and the home for Yangtze wildlife.

Yangtze finless porpoise has been listed for endangered species by World Conversation Union, whose quantity was less than 1000, according to the experts from the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In addition, the finless porpoise in Poyang Lake approaches half number of Yangtze finless porpoise, which is the best population with a stabilized quantity and reasonable structure. Consequently, the Ministry of Agriculture decided to choose 4 finless porpoises as the superior resource of its population, releasing them to the Ji Chengyuan finless porpoise protection area in Hunan. (Rednet. cn)