What kind of dolphin was the Yangtze River dolphin?

The Yangtze River dolphin was a species of dolphin belonging to the family Lipotidae and the genus Lipotes. They were endemic to the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in China. They had lived in the Yangtze for about 20 million years and were sometimes called 'living fossils.' Unlike other dolphins, they had very small eyes and poor eyesight. This is thought to be the result of their evolution in the murky waters of the Yangtze River, where they relied on echolocation rather than vision to find prey. They had a long beak, a rounded head, and a stocky build. They were often solitary, but sometimes formed small groups of a few to a dozen individuals. They were known as 'baiji' in Chinese, meaning 'white fin dolphin.' In English, they are called 'Yangtze River dolphin' or 'baiji.'

What did Yangtze River dolphins eat?

Yangtze River dolphins were carnivores and mainly ate fish such as carp and crucian carp. They used their long beak to probe the mud at the bottom of the river and catch fish. They could also use echolocation to find prey. By emitting sound waves, they could understand their surroundings and pinpoint the location of their prey. This ability allowed them to hunt effectively, even in murky water.

Why did the Yangtze River dolphin go extinct?

The extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin was primarily due to human activities. ・Bycatch from fisheries: They often got caught accidentally in fishing nets and drowned. ・Collisions with vessels: They were often killed by being struck by boat propellers. ・Water pollution: Pollution from industrial wastewater, sewage, and agricultural runoff degraded the water quality of the Yangtze River, reducing their food sources and causing disease. ・Dam construction: Dam construction fragmented their habitat and restricted their movement. ・Noise pollution: Noise from boats and sonar interfered with their communication and caused stress. These combined factors led to a drastic decline in their population in the late 20th century, and they were declared functionally extinct in 2007. Functional extinction means that there are no longer enough individuals to breed, and extinction is only a matter of time. The Yangtze River dolphin is one of the species that was driven to extinction by humans. Their extinction serves as a stark reminder of the importance of coexisting with nature. We must learn from the lessons of the Yangtze River dolphin and strive to create a society that can coexist with all living creatures on Earth.

Animal Article

Yangtze River Dolphin

Once known as the 'Goddess of the Yangtze,' the Yangtze River dolphin, or baiji, was a beloved creature in China. With their pale, pinkish-white bodies, they gracefully navigated the murky waters of the Yangtze River. However, they disappeared in the late 20th century. Let's trace the story of the Yangtze River dolphin and reflect on the message they have left us.