Yangtze finless porpoise calf turns one month old after historic head-first birth

A male Yangtze finless porpoise calf born at the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is now one month old and growing well. Nicknamed "Little 26," he was born on May 22 to an 18-year-old female porpoise named Fujiu.

The Yangtze Cetacean Breeding and Conservation Center was inaugurated on June 22 after two years of renovation, alongside the launch of the sixth Yangtze Finless Porpoise Awareness Month.

The Yangtze Cetacean Breeding and Conservation Center reopens at the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, on June 22, 2026, after two years of renovation. (Photo courtesy of the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

The birth made history as the first recorded head-first delivery among the managed Yangtze finless porpoise population. Porpoises and dolphins typically give birth tail-first.

The newborn measured about 70 centimeters in length and weighed around 5 kilograms at birth. It has since grown to over 80 centimeters in length and weighs about 9 kilograms, nearly double its birth weight. The calf remains active and healthy, swimming independently and exploring its surroundings.

Fujiu was introduced from the wild in 2011 and has successfully raised two calves, making her an experienced mother. The calf's father, Taotao, is the first Yangtze finless porpoise in the world to be born under human care. "Little 26" is the pair's third offspring.

Yangtze finless porpoise Fujiu and her new calf "Little 26" swim at the Institute of Hydrobiology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Photo courtesy of the Wuhan Baiji Conservation Foundation)

The Wuhan Baiji Conservation Foundation, in collaboration with Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative, has developed an AI-powered behavioral recognition platform for Yangtze finless porpoises. The system identifies daily activities and mother-calf interactions, and automatically tracks key behaviors such as nursing.

More than one month old, "Little 26" has grown to over 80 centimeters in length and weighs about 9 kilograms, nearly double its birth weight. (Photo courtesy of the Wuhan Baiji Conservation Foundation)

Future newborns will also benefit from improved facilities. The renovated Yangtze Cetacean Breeding and Conservation Center features a water volume of 1,100 cubic meters and a full water circulation cycle of 1.5 hours.

Yangtze finless porpoise-themed visuals are showcased on an outdoor screen in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Photo courtesy of the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)

According to the latest data, the wild Yangtze finless porpoise population stood at approximately 1,249 in 2022, marking the first reversal of its long-term decline, and has since risen to 1,426 in 2025.