Tongling (AsiaNews/Agencies) – New hopes for the “baiji tun”, the Chinese white dolphin which according to experts became extinct as of last year: a man has seen a solitary example in the waters of the Yangtze river, its natural habitat.
According to the state news agency Xinhua, a Tongling citizen (in eastern Anhui province) filmed the animal as it swam up river. The film was then sent to the Chinese Academy of science: there experts from the Institute of Hydrobiology confirmed the “identity” of the white dolphin.
Institute deputy director Wang Ding explains “The judgment that it is effectively extinct is correct. Besides, the white-flag dolphin was found in a deserted part of the waterway where no search had been conducted”. The definition effectively extinct means that while a few animals may still survive, there are not enough to rebuild a viable population.
Scientists believe that the baiji tun is one of the most ancient sweet water mammals, which in the past chose the lower reaches of the Yangtze as its natural breeding grounds. In the ‘80’s it is believed that there were at least 400 examples of the species in the river. In the last thorough research – in 1997 – only 13 examples were found.
It is commonly believed the species was driven to extinction by human activities and the rising levels of pollution in its habitat by Chinese industries. Furthermore scientists believe that unless intervention and protection measures are put in place as soon as possible the Yangtze will become a dead river within three years.