Endangered Species Struggle in China’s Yangtze River

Scientists are working to protect Yangtze finless porpoises, whose numbers have plunged in recent decades.
The river, one of the world’s busiest, faces ecological damage from pollution, boat traffic, and overfishing.
Finless porpoise populations fell from over 2,500 in the 1990s to 1,012 in 2017.
Veteran researcher Wang Ding warns other species could “disappear like dominoes” if the porpoises cannot survive.
Conservation measures include the 2021 Yangtze River Protection Law, banning fishing and restricting industrial runoff.
The finless porpoise population has increased to around 1,300 under these protections.
Scientists are also breeding and releasing Chinese sturgeon to restore wild populations.
They urge stricter shipping regulations and an extension of the 10-year fishing ban to protect the river ecosystem.