The World’s Only Freshwater Porpoise Species Is Critically Endangered But Still Smiling

Sustainable Development Goals and the Yangtze River Finless Porpoise

Introduction

Habitat loss, pollution, poaching, climate change – the list of threats against Earth’s species seems only to be growing. In the midst of these struggles lives a small population of critically endangered freshwater porpoises: meet the Yangtze River finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis).

About the Yangtze River Finless Porpoise

As the name suggests, this porpoise species lives in China’s Yangtze River and has a population of just 1,012 individuals according to the WWF. This is a subspecies of the narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) which lives around Japan and coastal China, there is also the East Asian finless porpoise or Sunameri (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis. sunameri). The world’s most endangered marine mammal is the vaquita, found in Mexico, a species thought to only have a population of around 10 left.

Threats to the Yangtze River Finless Porpoise

“The news has not been good,” Judy A. Takats, a lead of river basin stewardship at World Wildlife Fund (WWF) told The Dodo. “The Yangtze finless porpoise was once a common sight, but its population has decreased an average of 13.7 percent annually in recent years […] If these threats were not eliminated or minimized, it was thought the porpoise may become functionally extinct by 2025.”

The porpoise previously shared this habitat with another species: the Yangtze River dolphin, also known as the Baiji, which was declared extinct in 2006. The porpoise is also found in two lakes that connect to the Yangtze River, the Dongting and the Poyang.

Description of the Yangtze River Finless Porpoise

The species lacks the dorsal fin that is characteristic of dolphins and whales. Its streamlined body measures around 2 meters (6.5 feet) and they weigh around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

Main Threats to the Species

One of the main threats to this species comes from fishing. Overfishing reduces the number of prey species available to the porpoise, while they are also frequently tangled up in fishing equipment or even struck by boats.

Another threat to this species is habitat destruction caused by the sand industry. The Natural History Museum London writes that sand is thought to be the world’s most extracted natural resource after water, heavily impacting the porpoise’s natural home.

Impact of Sand Mining on the Porpoises

A 2023 study looked at the ecological impacts of sand mining on the porpoises and found that the mining practices both prohibited the porpoises’ movements and also reduced important shoreside habitats that were used by the porpoises for foraging and also as nurseries.

In positive news, the illegal sand mining was closely monitored in 2017 leading to a suspension. “The suspension of sand mining in 2017 was a very positive move, and could give this important ecosystem a chance to recover,” Richard Sabin, the Museum’s Principal Curator of Mammals told the Natural History Museum. “It shows that nature can be given room to thrive even in one of the world’s most rapidly industrializing countries, and hopefully the Yangtze finless porpoise will start to recover.”

Conservation Efforts

In 2020, the first Yangtze finless porpoise that was born in captivity was released back into the wild. The four-year-old female was named Bei Bei. The team from the Chinese Academy of Science hopes that she will go on to mate now that she has returned to her wild home.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
   • Indicator: The article mentions pollution as one of the threats against Earth’s species, including the critically endangered freshwater porpoises. This indicates the need to address marine pollution to protect these species.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
   • Indicator: The article highlights habitat loss as one of the threats faced by Earth’s species, including the critically endangered freshwater porpoises. This indicates the need to address habitat degradation and protect threatened species.

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Source: iflscience.com

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