The issue of how to save the baiji was also discussed in two IUCN Species Survival Commission documents, at several small-scale or more general workshops and meetings, and in many scientific publications. However, for some years there were differing opinions about the best conservation strategy to pursue (in situ vs. ex situ, including the semi-natural reserve). This, combined with the overwhelming and escalating degradation of the baiji’s habitat (the Yangtze being “Golden Waterway of China”), meant that only minimal financial or logistical support for baiji conservation ever materialised. A renewed international initiative to generate momentum and increased international support for a carefully managed semi-natural recovery programme at Tian’e-Zhou from 2004 onwards, involving development of a detailed budget and implementation plan and extensive fund-raising efforts, was unsuccessful because the species had already disappeared.

The extinction of the baiji was a national tragedy for China and an international disgrace. An earlier, more dynamic response to the species’ decline, both inside China and from the international community, might have kept some individuals alive today. Now, having lost the battle to save the baiji, the next challenge is to prevent the Yangtze River population of finless porpoises from experiencing a similar fate.

The above provides a background to the baiji and its conservation. The CSG posts news items and updates about conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise and these can be found on our News page or at the following links: