Article

Integrated Conservation Strategy for Endangered Small Cetaceans: Insights from the Case of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise

^a Institute of Hydrobiology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
^b National Aquatic Biological Resource Center, NABRC, China

^* To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: wangd@ihb.ac.cn

Abstract

The Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP) is an endemic freshwater cetacean species that exclusively inhabits the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin. Since the late 1970s, the YFP has experienced a drastic population decline and was classified as critically endangered by the IUCN in 2013. To save this unique species, a range of integrated conservation measures have been implemented, including strengthening natural habitat protection (in-situ), enhancing insurance populations (ex-situ), and advancing captive breeding and research initiatives. These efforts have yielded significant progress in the conservation of the YFP. The natural population has been starting to increase after a sharp decline, and the establishment of three insurance populations has provided a solid foundation for recovery. Additionally, advancement in captive breeding and research has delivered crucial technical support for population conservation. As a flagship species of Yangtze River biodiversity and an indicator of the river’s ecosystem health, the YFP’s integrated conservation strategy not only benefits its own population but also offers valuable insights for the protection of other endangered aquatic species in the Yangtze River and other threatened small cetaceans worldwide.