Current Situation of Yangtze River Dolphin

Groups of Yangtze River dolphin could be seen in Yangtze River in 1950s. The number of Yangtze River dolphins keeps decreasing rapidly. They are disappeared in the lakes and tributaries of Yangtze River.

It is reported that there were 400 Yangtze River dolphins in early 1980. The number decreased to 300 in 1986. The number was less than 100 in 1995. There were only about 20-30 Yangtze River dolphins in early 21 century. Yangtze River dolphin was listed as an endangered animal and under the state first-class protection.

Yangtze River dolphin is a member of cetacea. There were more than 1000 Yangtze River dolphins in the river 30 years ago. Due to the severe pollution of the water and busy shipping on the river, the number of Yangtze River dolphin decreased rapidly to 300 in 1986. It was listed as one of the top 12 most endangered animals in the world by International Union for Conservation of Nature. There were only 20 Yangtze River dolphins living in the river in 2000. Those terrifying number prove that the rare, precious and lovely animal would disappear in the near future.

A fisherman caught a Yangtze River dolphin in the river near Dongting Lake in January 1980. The dolphin was moved to Institute of Hydrobiology of Chinese Academy of Science in Wuhan City of Hubei Province. It was cultivated there and dead on July 14, 2002.

40 scientists from China, America, Britain, Japan, Germany and Switzerland investigated the 1700-kilometer main stream (reaches between Yichang and Shanghai) from November 6 to December 13, 2006. The found no Yangtze River dolphin in the river.

In 1979, China listed Yangtze River dolphin as an endangered animal.

In 1983, legislation was carried out to declare that hunting of Yangtze River dolphin is a violation of the law.

In 1986, there were 300 Yangtze River dolphins lived in Yangtze River.

In 1990, there were 200 Yangtze River dolphin lived in Yangtze River.

In 1997, there were less than 50 Yangtze River dolphins lived in Yangtze River (23 of them were discovered).

In 1998, only discovered 7 Yangtze River dolphins lived in Yangtze River.

In 2004, found the body of a stranded Yangtze River dolphin at Nanjing reaches of Yangtze River in July.

In 2006, no Yangtze River dolphin was found.

In 2007, the extinction of Yangtze River dolphin was declared formally on August 8. There is no Yangtze River dolphin in the world any more.