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Two Yangtze finless porpoises in Poyang Lake, which is China’s largest freshwater lake, have been relocated to a safer location for better protection. The Songmenshan area of Poyang Lake, located in Duchang County, Jiangxi Province, had over 30 finless porpoises in 2022 who could not return to the deep water area due to drought in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
To prevent potential risks like stranding and food shortage, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangxi Province and the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences launched an operation to relocate the Yangtze finless porpoises. The operation was carried out in Poyang Lake, where these mammals reside.
The finless porpoise, considered a barometer of the ecological environment in the Yangtze River basin, is an iconic species in the Yangtze River, the country’s longest river. The species is commonly known as the “giant panda of the water” and is under top-level state protection in China. Poyang Lake is a crucial habitat for these aquatic creatures, and it is therefore vital to relocate them to safer locations during extreme weather conditions.
The relocation operation by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangxi Province and the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has helped to safeguard the survival of the Yangtze finless porpoises in Poyang Lake. The operation has mitigated the potential risks that could have led to the extinction of this iconic species in the Yangtze River basin.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangxi Province and the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences relocated two Yangtze finless porpoises in Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake, for better protection. Due to the drought in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in 2022, over 30 finless porpoises in the Songmenshan area of the Poyang Lake in Duchang County, Jiangxi Province, failed to swim back to the deep water area. To reduce potential risks such as stranding and food shortage, the expert team carried out a relocation operation.
Before the relocation, the expert team caught these finless porpoises and transferred them to a boat for a physical examination. Liu Kai, a researcher at the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, said that young and middle-aged individuals were chosen for the relocation. Those that were not suitable for moving out were put back into the lake directly.
The waters in the south of the Songmenshan area of Poyang Lake have a good environment, and the pregnancy rate of finless porpoises is high. A total of 21 finless porpoises were caught during this mission, 15 males and six females. Five of the female finless porpoises are pregnant, and the other is a one-year-old juvenile porpoise, all of which were put back into the lake. The expert team used ultrasonic instruments to check the condition of their organs, carry out shape measurements, mark scanning, and collect biological samples.
The Yangtze finless porpoise is iconic in the Yangtze River, the country’s longest river, and is under top-level state protection in China. The species is known as the “giant panda of the water,” which acts as a barometer of the ecological environment in the Yangtze River basin. Poyang Lake is also an important habitat for these mammals. With the relocation, the expert team is hoping to protect the finless porpoises and their ecological environment.
The successful relocation of two Yangtze finless porpoises to the waters of Poyang Lake in Hukou County followed three days of artificial rounding-up, physical examination screening, and transportation. After a careful selection process, two male finless porpoises were chosen and placed into transport boxes for the journey. The transportation process was designed to minimize any harm or discomfort to the porpoises.
During the relocation, staff used transport boxes that were specially designed for finless porpoises. The boxes were lined with moist towels to keep the porpoises’ body surfaces wet, and emergency medicine was prepared to prevent stress reactions during transportation. The staff ensured that the porpoises’ positions were straightened and that their backs were covered with moist towels.
To reach the deep water area of Poyang Lake, which is located in Hukou County, the transport boats carrying the porpoises were carefully moved by the staff with the help of stretchers. Once the transport boats reached the deep water area, the staff gently released the porpoises into the water, ensuring that they were free to swim in their new home.
The successful relocation was necessary due to the drought in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in 2022. Over 30 finless porpoises in the Songmenshan area of Poyang Lake failed to swim back to the deep water area, increasing the risk of stranding and food shortage. The relocation operation was carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangxi Province and the Institute of Hydrobiology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences to reduce these risks.
The Yangtze finless porpoise is an iconic species in the Yangtze River, the country’s longest river. It is under top-level state protection in China and is known as the “giant panda of the water.” The porpoise is a barometer of the ecological environment in the Yangtze River basin, and Poyang Lake is an essential habitat for these mammals. Last year, the lake’s lowest water level fell below the historical value, making it necessary to relocate the finless porpoises for better protection.
The Jiangxi Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has conducted six emergency operations and successfully relocated 111 trapped finless porpoises to the deep water area in Poyang Lake. The department has now planned to select eight finless porpoises from Poyang Lake for a conservation operation. These selected porpoises will be transported and released to reserves in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, and Hukou County of Jiangxi.
According to Liu Kai, a researcher at the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, the main objective of the relocation of finless porpoises is to optimize the existing finless porpoise population structure in the Yangtze River Basin. This relocation will enrich genetic diversity and support the sound development of the Yangtze finless porpoise population.
The finless porpoise is an iconic species in the Yangtze River, which is the country’s longest river. It is under top-level state protection in China, and the species is considered a barometer of the ecological environment in the Yangtze River basin. Poyang Lake is also an essential habitat for these mammals, making the relocation operations crucial for their protection and conservation.
The success of these relocation operations relies on the expertise of the researchers and the availability of specially designed transport boxes to ensure the safety and well-being of the finless porpoises during transportation. With the ongoing efforts of the Chinese government and conservation organizations, the Yangtze finless porpoise population can be protected and preserved for future generations.
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