The Yangtze River is a major habitant for finless¹ porpoise², an aquatic³ marine⁴ mammal close to dolphins.

 

长江是江豚的主要栖息地。江豚是一种水生哺乳动物，与海豚有较近的亲缘关系。
 

 

However due to increasing human activities the number of the animal has been declining in China over the years.

 

Provinces along the Yangtze River have been aware of the situation and taken action to prevent the extinction⁵ of the already endangered species

 

Finless porpoise are a second-class protected animal species in China and are classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

 

Their number in China is even lower than that of the Panda.

 

According to the latest statistics, there are barely over 1000 finless porpoises⁶ in the Yangtze River. In 1991, the number was still around 2700.

 

The finless porpoise is a freshwater species and has a high degree of interaction with humans. This often puts the animal at risk.

 

Hu Shibin, president of Anhui Yangtze River Protection Association, says there are several factors leading to the earlier reduction of the finless porpoise in China.

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