Images capture Yangtze finless porpoises in Wuhan again

(Video by Gao Baoyan / For China Daily)

Residents have recently taken photos and made videos of several Yangtze finless porpoises preying on fish and playing near the Yingwuzhou Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province.

Residents had not seen the endangered the animals in Wuhan for more than 10 years before rare images were taken on Oct 21, 2018. Experts believed that the animals came from the upstream of the Yangtze River to chase fish.

In August this year, a group of about 10 Yangtze finless porpoises was seen in the Yangtze River in the area of Wuhan, which an expert says may be the result of less interference from human activities or an increase in food availability.

(Video by Gao Baoyan / For China Daily)

China initiated a 10-year ban on fishing in the Yangtze River at the beginning of the year.

Wuhan has also launched a campaign to help the endangered Yangtze finless porpoises return to the city section of the Yangtze River.

The city has launched a scientific research program on Oct 24 to explore the situations of fish species and other aquatic animals, especially the Yangtze finless porpoises, living along the Yangtze River within a range of 60 kilometers between Junshan Yangtze River Bridge and Yangluo Yangtze River Bridge.