Environment, Pictures, Science

Yangtze River Dolphin Most Likely Extinct

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river dolphin

The Yangtze river dolphin, one of the most endangered species on the planet, has been declared officially extinct. After an exhaustive survey of its habitate scientists were unable to discover any signs that there are any of the freshwater mammal left.

It is the first large vertebrate forced to extinction by human activity in 50 years, and only the fourth time an entire evolutionary line of mammals has vanished from the face of the Earth since the year 1500, according to The Guardian of London.

The Yangtze used to be home to thousands of these creatures but is now so polluted and industrialized that it finally became impossible for the dolphins to live there.

Traditionally revered as a sort of river demi-god, the dolphin used to enjoy a cultural protection, during Mao Zedong’s “Great Leap Forward” the destruction of traditional culture saw this protection lifted and the dolphin was then hunted for it’s meat and skin.

polluted yangtze

Scientists scoured the river four times, using sensitive microphones, and high powered binoculars to try and find these elusive beasts. The plan was to capture any remaining dolphins and take them to a lake that had once been part of the river. Unfortunately the scientists found nothing.

Local fishing practices of using long lines of unbated hooks to simply catch anything that wanders into them have killed thousands of dolphins in the last 30 years, even though the practice is supposedly illegal.

This is not the first time we have covered the shocking disregard that China’s industrial growth (fueled in large part by Americans hunger for cheap crap), is decimating the local environment. We must remember that the “deal” we are getting on our cheap goods has a much greater price for the natural world.

10 thoughts on “Yangtze River Dolphin Most Likely Extinct”

  1. I am so anoyed at china they are the down side of the whole world they kill animals and pollute so much they should just die themselves. and also japan pollute so much and kill loads of animals why is it they do this so much? and they kill whales that are endangered it think we should make china and japan endangered people >:(

  2. I’M right with you they are horrible people !!!!!! WHY DO THEY DO THAT TO THOSE HELPLESS ANIMALS !!!! I’M CRYING I REALLY HATE THEM LOOK HOW MUCH THEY POLLUTE!!!!! THERE HORRIBLE NO WONDER WHY SO MANY SPECIES HAVE GONE EXTINCT!!!! DOLPHINS HAVE BEEN MY FAVORITE ANIMALS SINCE I WAS 4 YEARS OLD !!!! I ABSOLUTELY HATE JAPAN !!!!! I’M SO GLAD AMERICA ISNT LIKE THAT !!!!!!! THERE SO NOT GOING TO HEAVEN!!!!!! I’M FURIOUS !!!!! I WISH THEY WOULD ALL DIE THEMSELVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. Just for your information, i am as much of an animal lover as the next person. I feel that this is a horrible loss for the planet and just proves that humankind has lost all reguard for things that we used to hold so precious.Yet, before you say that you hate Japan, and you are so glad that America isn’t like this you shold read what fuels this type of pollution ‘Americans hunger for cheap crap’. This should open your eyes to that you reaize maybe THEIR going to heaven as well.

  6. Humans are the scourge of the Earth, plain and simple. Some day, this planet will shake us all off and start over, and things will get right again.

  7. “JULIANNA FARAGALLI” –

    “The Naib” is right; if you weren’t so ignorant and naive (or maybe your just young), you’d know that the Yangtze River is in China and has nothing to do with Japan. Also, “Amy” is correct too, if you want to talk contributers of pollution then you know, before you start hating on other countries, that the U.S. is by far the biggest polluters in the world. Developed countries such as the U.S. make up only a small part of the world’s population, yet contribute the majority of the world’s waste. And FYI, Japan has a history of forest conservation and is the leader in environmental protection among East Asian nations. Only an idiot would blame and hate an entire country for issues caused by only a small portion of the population. Its like hating America and wishing they all would die because cows are my favorite animal and they slaughter millions of cattle. Be upset with the Chinese government for the creation of the Three Gorges Dam, not with Japan you ignorant child.

  8. Julianna,
    You could not have said this more eloquently. Thank you. We must remember that we all share this planet and we need to learn from one another and share the responsibility of damage that we have done to the planet. This is the only way we will be able to move forward and protect more species from going extinct.
    It’s very important to think and research before you speak. It is good to be passionate about things, but be informed as well :-)

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