Five Threats for Yangtze River Finless Porpoise

Compared with Yangtze River dolphin, Yangtze River finless porpoise is lucky. It is smaller and than Yangtze River dolphin and need less food for survival. It also has stronger reproduction ability than Yangtze River dolphin. Yangtze River finless porpoise was called "pig in river" by the fishermen; they thought that it is ominous to catch a Yangtze River finless porpoise. The meat of Yangtze River finless porpoise doesn't taste good, so it is of little economic value.

Recent years, there are many reports about the unnatural death of Yangtze River finless porpoise. There many other factors responsible for the death of Yangtze River finless porpoise except disease and senescence. The experts summarized five factors responsible for the death of Yangtze River finless porpoise:

1.Propeller. Yangtze River finless porpoise uses the sonar system to find the location. It is always seriously disturbed by the sound of the propeller. Some Yangtze River finless porpoises were beat to death by the propellers since they are unable to dodge it.

2.Toxicant. The water pollution and human poison directly caused to the death of Yangtze River finless porpoises and lower their reproduction ability.

3.Explosive. Some of the fishermen use the explosive to catch fish illegally. The blow-up of submerged reef also greatly threatens the survival of Yangtze River finless porpoise.

4.Fishing jig. It is a merciless tool for catching fish. The sharp fishhooks always hurt the Yangtze River finless porpoise unintentionally.

5.Shortage of food. Yangtze River finless porpoise is on the top of the food chain in Yangtze River. It only feeds on fish. The shortage of fish directly influences the survival and reproduction of Yangtze River finless porpoise.