The increased urbanisation along China's mother river, the Yangtze, has caused its deterioration over the years. As one of China's most important waterways, cargo ships as well as passenger boats navigate its channels and over the last 50 years, there has been a 73 percent increase in pollution levels in the main stem of the Yangtze River.

Indeed, some parts of the river have such heavy traffic and pollution that it is hard to imagine anything still living in its waters.

But lurking in the murky waters are 1,000 or so Yangtze Finless Porpoises. This is in a big part due to the great work of individuals and groups who dedicate themselves to the cause of saving these animals. One of the leading figures in this conservation effort is Professor Wang Ding, a senior researcher who has helped implement successful conservation projects like the Tianezhou Oxbow Lake Natural Reserve.

Join Diane To as she travels along the Yangtze River meeting the conservationists working hard to save the world's only freshwater porpoise from extinction.

Source: Al Jazeera