Aquatic Resource Conservation. The first Yangtze finless porpoise successfully born in captivity (4 pp) |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Ding?WANGEmail author Yujiang?HAO Kexiong?WANG Quingzhong?ZHAO Daoquang?CHEN Zhuo?WEI Xianfeng?ZHANG |
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Institution: | (1) Ding WANG, Ph.D. & Prof. Deputy Director Institute of Hydrobiology The Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 CHINA, PR,;(2) Yujiang HAO Institute of Hydrobiology The Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China, PR,;(3) Kexiong WANG Institute of Hydrobiology The Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 CHINA, PR,;(4) Quingzhong ZHAO Institute of Hydrobiology The Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China, PR,;(5) Daoquang CHEN Institute of Hydrobiology The Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China, PR,;(6) Zhuo WEI Institute of Hydrobiology The Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China, PR,;(7) Xianfeng ZHANG Institute of Hydrobiology The Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, Hubei, 430072 China, PR, |
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Abstract: | Background As the sole freshwater subspecies of finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), the Yangtze finless porpoise (N. p. asiaeorientalis)
lives only in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and its appended Poyang and Dongting Lakes. As a result of
human activity on the river, including over and illegal fishing, pollution, transportation and dam construction, the population
of Yangtze finless porpoises has been steadily and rapidly decreasing during the past several decades, which leads the animal
to be endangered.
Methods For saving this unique animal from extinction, three corresponding measures, in situ conservation, ex situ conservation,
and intensifying breeding research in captivity, were proposed and have been implemented since the 1980s.
Results After successfully rearing the animals in captivity for almost nine years, the first Yangtze finless porpoise was successfully
born in captivity on July 5, 2005. The calf is male, with a body length of 69cm. This is the first freshwater cetacean ever
born in captivity.
Conclusion The successful birth of this calf confirms that it is possible to breed the Yangtze finless porpoise in captivity. Furthermore,
this will greatly benefit the conservation efforts, and also greatly bolster our on-going efforts to study the reproductivebiology
of these animals.
Recommendation More studies and efforts are expected to establish a sustainable, captive colony of the Yangtze finless porpoise, which will
not only greatly expand our knowledge about the reproduction biology of this animal, but also help to redeem the wild population
through a careful yearly 'soft releasing' process. |
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Keywords: | Yangtze finless porpoise (N p asiaeorientalis) conservation methods animal protection species protection finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) successfully born in captivity |
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