Baiji Dolphin

Hidden in the murky waters of the Yangtze River in China dwells an ancient species of dolphin unchanged by 20 million years of evolution. The Baiji Dolphin is the most endangered Cetacean in the world. The Baiji has a very long, narrow beak, with abrupt forehead and tiny eyes set high on the sides of the head. The triangular dorsal fin has a blunt peak. They are blue-grey in color, fading to white below. They grow …

…of grass-roots public support, townspeople rallied in support of Baiji conservation. Shortly thereafter the Institute of Hydrobiology in Wuhan opened a research and captive breeding oceanarium on the middle reaches of the river, which was funded in part by the Japanese government. Meanwhile farther upriver in the countryside, a "semi-natural" reserve was established. Today in this reserve several Baiji live and are doing well, and hopefully we will soon be able to restore their population.