The Yangtze River is one of the longest rivers in the world, and its unique bio-diversity provides an incredibly important ecological role to the species that reside within its 1000-mile course. The most well known species to live in the river is the Yangtze River dolphin, or baiji.
The baiji was discovered in 1878 by a German zoologist, and has since been studied extensively. It is endemic to the waters of the Yangtze, and is therefore one of the rarest species of the river. It is believed to have evolved there over 20 million years ago, and is an incredible marvel of evolution – a species that adapted to the changing waters and environment of the river.
The baiji, apart from its rarity, is remarkable in a number of ways. It is an extremely social creature, swimming in large pods of up to 200 individuals, and communicating with whistles and clicks. It is sight-reliant, unlike other dolphins, using echolocation to navigate the muddy waters of the Yangtze. It has an incredibly long narrow mouth, enabling it to consume small fish and invertebrates, such as shrimp and molluscs.
But sadly, the recent decades have seen a rapid decline in the baiji population, due to a number of factors. Illegal poaching is one of the primary sources of its demise, but over-fishing, dam construction, and water pollution has had equally devastating effects.
A study conducted in 2006 by an international team of experts that explored the waters of the Yangtze reported that there were potentially between zero and 11 baiji in the wild. However, even with their limited technology, they were unable to spot any dolphins in the river, and believed that the species was extinct.
In light of this, Chinese conservationists have been working tirelessly to protect what is left of the species. The Institute for the Research of Aquatic Animals was founded to not only research the baiji, but to house dolphins captured in the past few decades in an effort to save the species.
Experts believe the baiji to be functionally extinct at this stage, with little chance of its population returning to numbers strong enough to sustain its species. The story of the baiji, a species that was adapted to one of the oldest and most varied rivers in the world, is sad reminder that humans are capable of causing equally catastrophic damage to our ecosystems.
Threats To The Species
The threats to the baiji are multi-faceted and reflect the changing environment of the Yangtze. Illegal poaching for its meat, oil, and fins continues to be a major issue, although it is now largely illegal. Over-fishing, too, has had a severely detrimental effect, with the species now unable to find enough food to sustain itself.
The numerous dams and shipping lanes along the YangtZE are also responsible for the baiji’s decline. These create huge obstacles, both conceptually and physically, between the dolphins and their habitat. Additionally, the increased shipping in the Yangtze has decreased the quality of the water, leading to an increase in pollution.
The construction of the Gezhouba Dam in 1981 was an incredibly detrimental project. Despite protests by national and international environmental activists, the dam blocked off the stretch of the Yangtze that the baiji inhabited, leading to an alarming decrease in the population.
Conservation Efforts
Given its startlingly steep decline, the Chinese government and conservationists have banded together to try and protect the remaining few baiji. The International Baiji Foundation is a primary example of this , and has since been joined by the Chinese government in an effort to save the species from extinction.
In an effort to understand the population, a survey was conducted in 2006 to establish the number of baiji in the wild. The International Baiji Foundation sent out a team of experts to scour the Yangtze in search of the dolphins. Despite finding evidence of their recent activity, they were not able to spot any living baiji.
In the few cases where baiji have been rescued or captured, they were placed in temporary or permanent species tanks. This gives researchers the chance to observe the species, as well as creating a captive breeding system, with the hope that they can return back to the wild one day.
Pollution In The Yangtze
The rampant pollution of the Yangtze is having a hugely detrimental effect on the baiji, as well as the many other species that inhabit the river. Mercury has been detected in the river at alarmingly high levels, leading to a drastic decrease in the quality of the water and its inhabitants.
Affected species are the fish that the baiji feeds on, as well as a number of marine mammals, birds, and reptiles. The pollutants also have a drastically adverse impact on humans, leading to a number of respiratory illnesses, as well as a decrease in crop yields.
China’s industrial output is one of the driving forces behind the pollution of the Yangtze, with thousands of factories located close to the river being able to freely pour their toxic waste into the river unhindered.
Effects On Wildlife
Pollution of the Yangtze, both directly and indirectly, has had devastating effects on the wildlife in the river. In addition to the rapid decline of the baiji population, the baiji’s habitat, the Yangtze, is less hospitable to other species. Endangered turtles such as the Yangtze giant softshell turtle, have also experienced a population decrease.
The pollution of the Yangtze has destroyed its coral reefs, leading to a stark decrease in the coral fish population. The heavy metals that accumulate as a result of the pollution also have a number of effects on the bird population of the river.
Aquaculture, or farming fish and other aquatic species, is an world-wide popular practice. The over-fishing of the Yangtze to cater for this industry has had a drastic effect on the habitat of the baiji, with a number of species unable to find enough food and nutrients as a result.
Conclusion of experts
Experts believe that the baiji has all but disappeared from the Yangtze, and is likely to remain extinct in the foreseeable future. International conservationists have, however, tried their best to protect what is left of the species, and hopefully enact legislation to stop activities that damage the environment of the Yangtze, and ultimately the baiji.
The story of the baiji should act as a powerful warning to all of us. Our activities, even those of a seemingly innocuous nature, can have drastic and long-lasting effects on the environment. We must strive to protect our species, and not let them disappear without a fight.
