Finless porpoises are decreasing by 7.3 percent annually in the Yangtze River, China's longest, according to the Institute of Hydrobiology of Chinese Academy of Sciences. About 1,000 are left.
"We do research on porpoises' situation every year at key reaches of the Yangtze since the early 1980s, and have found that the number of Yangtze finless porpoises has decreased rapidly in the past two decades," said Wei Zhuo, an institute scientist.
Saving the Yangtze finless porpoise is challenging. About 1,000 porpoises now live in the River, said Wei.
As a result of excessive fishing, pollution, and dam construction, the population of Yangtze finless porpoises has been steadily and rapidly decreasing - it's now an endangered species.
Wei suggests establishment of more natural reserves, improving water quality, strengthening breeding, improving research and reinforcing habitat conservation.
"We need quick actions; or it probably will become like the endangered white-flag dolphin," said Wei.