In a heartwarming turn of events, four Yangtze finless porpoises that were raised in captivity were released into the Yangtze River's Tian'ezhou Nature Reserve in April 2023. Conservationists from around the world closely monitored the reintroduction, and early results indicate that the porpoises have successfully integrated into the natural population.
The previous year, China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released encouraging data from a survey of the species. The population had grown to 1,249 individuals, up from 1,012 just half a decade earlier. This represents an impressive average annual growth rate of 4.3 percent, a development that has been widely celebrated by environmentalists and conservationists alike.
This positive trend underscores the effectiveness of ongoing conservation strategies aimed at preserving the Yangtze finless porpoise, a species that has long been threatened by habitat loss and pollution. The successful release and subsequent integration of these porpoises into their natural habitat offer hope for the future of this iconic river dweller.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
