长江白鱀豚的保护

白鱀豚是我国特有的珍稀淡水哺乳动物,仅分布于长江中下游,目前长江白鱀豚的种群数量仅约200头,濒临灭绝。造成白鱀豚濒危的主要威胁来自长江鱼类资源的减少、有害渔具的广泛使用、航运事业的发展、河道的大规模整治、水电工程的建设、水体污染以及白鱀豚自身的生理特征。通过我们多年的研究,提出了建立半自然白鱀豚保护区、人工饲养下白鱀豚的繁殖,和建立长江白鱀豚自然保护区等三大措施。在各级政府和科研部门的共同努力下,三项措施正在落实,为保护白鱀豚创造了良好的条件,但面临的困难还很多,任务十分艰巨,我们希望开展广泛的国际合作,为保护白鱀豚共同努力。

CONSERVATION FOR THE BAIJI DOLPHIN IN THE YANGTZE RIVER

The Baiji dolphin is an endemic,rare and precious freshwater mammal of China,distributing exclusively in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River,with apopulation size of around 200 only,apparently an endangered species on the point ofextinction.Main threat to the survival of this species came from the diminution of the fishresources of the Yangtze River,the prevailing use of detrimental fishing tackle,therapid growth of the inland navigation,the large-scale dredging of the river channel,the construction of hydro-electric projects.the pollution of water bodies,and alsofrom the intrinsic physiological defect of the Baiji dolphin.Based on the results of our long-term research work,we proposed three cardinalmeasures:the establishing of Semi-natural Reserve for the Baiji dolphin,the propaga-tion of Baiji under cultivation,and the instituting of Yangtze River Nature Reservefor this animal.With the joint efforts of governmental organizations at all levels andresearch institutions,the three proposed measures are being implemented,thus providingfavorable conditions for the conservation work.Nevertheless,the work is faced withquite a number of difficulties,and the assigned task is a hard nut to crack.Therefore,we hope that extensive international cooperation can be organized,so as to effectconcerted efforts to rescue this endangered species.