Industrializing China: Baiji Yangtze Dolphin Declared Extinct

In the 1950's it was estimated there were 6,000 Baiji along the 3,500 km length of the Yangtze River. By the 1980’s numbers were estimated at about 400. In 1997, a population survey counted only 13 animals. The last confirmed sighting of a Baiji was in 2004.

The habitat of the dolphin has been affected by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. Heavy ship traffic that confused their sonar abilities, overfishing, and high levels of industrial pollutants dumped into the river is also thought to have affected the species survival.

The Baiji dolphin was colloquially known as the "Goddess of the Yangtze” and was regarded as a symbol of peace and prosperity. A prosperity of industrial development that has led to the species extinction.

Ironically, the Shanghai stock market hit the highest point in history exactly on the same day when the Baiji was announced extinct.

Scientists also surveyed the population of the endemic Yangtze Finless Porpoise, and found less than 400. "The situation of the finless propoise is just like that of the baiji 20 years ago", sais Wang Ding, deputy director of the Institute of Hydrobiology Wuhan. "Their numbers are declining at an alarming rate. If we do not act soon they will become a second Baiji", said Wang Ding, deputy director of the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Science in Wuhan.

Other freshwater cetacean species such as The Irawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) are also under threat of extinction being critically endangered and on IUCN’s Red List of Threatend Species. They are found in the Mahakam River of Kalimantan, Indonesia, the Ayeyarawaddy River of Myanmar and the Mekong River of southern Lao, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The decline in freshwater cetacean numbers signifies an over-exploitation of our world's major freshwater ecosystems. Ecosystems that millions of humans also depend upon for their daily survival. The UN declared 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action - Water for Life.

According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2007 has been declared 'the Year of the Dolphin'. Unfortunately it has come far too late for the Baiji Yangtze Dolphin.

Sources:

1. Baiji Foundation Dec 13, 2006: Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Expedition 2006
2. Wikipedia: Baiji
3. Another Chance to See
4. Mekong Dolphin Conservation Project
5. Sea Shepherd: We’ve Lost Another Cetacean Species
6. UNEP: UN Launches Year of the Dolphin 2007 Campaign
7. Year of the Dolphin website