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China Acts to Save Species from Extinction
Dozens of endangered aquatic mammal species, including China's native white-flag dolphin, stand to benefit from a much needed increase in protection.
The Beijing-based English newspaper quotes researchers as saying that threatened by deteriorating water quality and harsh living conditions, roughly 40 kinds of dolphins and whales which live in Chinese waters are hovering near extinction.
Available data indicate that the number of white-flag dolphins, also known as Chinese river dolphins, has dwindled to less than 100.
The white-flag dolphins are already considered the world's rarest dolphin species, and experts predict they will die out in 20 years if drastic measures are not taken to protect them.
China began taking measures to protect its marine and river mammals more than 10 years ago.
Vice-Minister of Agriculture Liu Jian said the central government plans to adopt more effective wildlife preservation measures and increase investment in protecting dolphins.
The central government has decided to spend 19 million yuan (2.3 million U.S.dollars) in setting up five natural reserves and one semi-natural reserve for aquatic mammals along the Yangtze River.
Experts hope the launch of protection programs will also raise public awareness of the need for wildlife preservation and cultivation of a balanced eco-system, said the paper.
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