In historic and modern times, the Yangtze River has been home to one of the world’s rarest creatures, the Baiji or Yangtze River Dolphin. Sadly, after centuries of modern human activities and pollution, the species is now extinct in the wild, having been officially declared ‘functionally extinct’ in 2006. But when was the Yangtze River dolphin protected in China?
Before there was any consideration of the Baiji’s endangered status, there was a general understanding that large scale human activities would have a devastating effect on the species. For example, in the 1950’s, Chinese officials began to construct a massive dam that would divert water from the Yangtze, creating a barrier to the dolphin’s movements. The creation of the dam, along with overfishing and development, caused the population of the species to fall rapidly by the 1980’s.
It wasn’t until 1986, when the World Wildlife Fund declared the Baiji a species “In Serious Danger of Extinction” that any official conservation efforts were made. In 1988, the Chinese government defacto protected the species when they listed the Baiji as a ‘Category One’ animal in their Wild Animal Protection Law, meaning it was illegal to hunt them and fishing nets larger than 6 inches were banned.
However, in spite of these measures, the population of the species continued to decline, with some estimates putting the number of Baijis left in the wild at around just 300 in the mid-1990s. That’s when more stringent conservation procedures begun to be implemented, including surveys of the Yangtze to identify and count the remaining dolphins.
Dr. Wang Ding, a researcher at the Institute of Hydrobiology in China, believes that the difficulties associated with protecting and conservation the Baiji are due to the complex relationship between environmental degradation, human activity and the biological needs of the Dolphin.
“We need to understand their behaviour,” says Dr. Wang. “They are easily disturbed by noise so interference from boats has to be controlled. We need to monitor water cycles and levels to make sure the habitat is suitable for them. Even protection can be too much if done incorrectly.”
Unfortunately, these measures weren’t enough to save the species and in 2006, after extensive searches of the Yangtze had failed to identify any living Baijis, it was declared ‘functionally extinct’.
This was a major blow to all those involved in the conservation efforts, but the legacy of the species still remains. The Baiji is still seen as a symbol of how human activities can irreversibly alter an environment and species, and how, despite the best efforts of many, progress is not always possible.
Development
In the last 30 years, there has been a massive increase in development along the Yangtze River, which has been a major threat to the Baiji and other aquatic species. It is estimated that in some areas of the river the population of Dolphins had fallen by more than 90% by the 1990s, due to the impacts of dams, overfishing and the disruption of their habitat.
It is understood that any development activities on the river must be carefully regulated, as any disruption to the environment can cause irreparable damage to the population of aquatic species. Many experts believe that if these measures had been implemented earlier, it is likely the Baiji could have been saved
The Chinese government has recently announced stricter regulations for developers on the Yangtze, including increased scrutiny for any activities that may disrupt fish habitats. It is hoped that these measures will be enough to protect the remaining aquatic species in the river and prevent the extinction of any other unique species.
Pollution
Recent studies have shown that pollution levels in the Yangtze are much higher than previously thought, due to agricultural and industrial waste from rural areas. This has had a particularly detrimental effect on the population of amphibians, reptiles and aquatic mammals in the river, including the Baiji.
There have been some attempts to reduce the levels of pollution in the river but, as yet, these have failed to have any long-term effects. It is believed that unless more drastic measures are taken to reduce the amount of waste entering the river, there is a risk of further extinctions and population declines.
The Chinese government has announced plans to invest in better waste management methods, including the creation of water treatment plants and better regulations for factories and farms. It is hoped that these measures will be enough to reduce the levels of pollution in the Yangtze and help to protect the aquatic species that depend on it.
Overfishing
The traditional practices of fishing have been a major factor in the decline of the Yangtze River dolphin, with overfishing contributing to the disruption of their habitat and the depletion of their food sources. This has been exacerbated by the mass production of fish farming, which has led to an increase in the demand for fish and allowed for larger numbers of fish to be harvested from the river.
In the last few years, there has been an attempt to limit the amount of fishing in the Yangtze, with regulations introduced to control the size and number of nets used. Although these measures have had some success, they are far from perfect and it is believed that more could be done to ensure that fishing practices are sustainable.
The Chinese government has recently announced plans to increase surveillance of the river, and introduce harsher fines for those found to be engaging in illegal or unsustainable practices. It is hoped that these measures will be enough to protect the aquatic species in the Yangtze and prevent the extinction of any further unique species.
Reintroduction
Even though the Yangtze River dolphin was officially declared extinct in 2006, there is still hope that the species can be reintroduced back into the wild. Several organisations, including the Chinese government, have been conducting studies in an attempt to identify suitable habitats for the reintroduction of the species.
It is believed that, with the right conditions and enough resources, the dolphin could be returned to the Yangtze. However, there are many risks associated with any such effort and it is not yet clear if it would be possible to reintroduce the species back into the wild.
In order to prepare for the reintroduction of the Baiji into the Yangtze, a number of conservation measures must be taken. These include reducing pollution and habitat destruction, increasing surveillance of fishing practices, and educating local communities about the importance of protecting aquatic species. These measures would need to be put into place in order to ensure a safe and sustainable environment for the species.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Yangtze River dolphin will ever be able to be reintroduced into the wild. But the memories of the Baiji still live on, and the species remains a symbol of how humans can alter the delicate balance of an environment and the consequences of such actions.
