Increasing Yangtze River finless porpoises spotted in East China

NANJING -- The population of finless porpoises in the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River is stable and increasing, according to the local forestry and park authorities.

More than 50 finless porpoises inhabit the waters there, said the forestry and park bureau of Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, on Thursday.

The finless porpoise, an endemic species in China, is also an important indicator of the ecology of the Yangtze River. The species can only be found in the middle and lower main streams of the Yangtze River.

The bureau said that the endangered species frequently appeared in the waters of the Yangtze River in Nanjing and their habitat range is expanding.

At least four finless porpoise calves were seen in the waters in the first half of 2021, said the bureau, adding that from January to July 2021, staff with the provincial nature reserve of Yangtze finless porpoise spotted and monitored the finless porpoises a total of 1,162 times, with 56 spottings being the most recorded in one day.

The bureau said that it has been improving the protection and management mechanism and constructed a monitoring system for the mammals.