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  • THURSDAY DECEMBER 14 2006 5:00 PM

Humans: 1, Baiji: 0. RIP, Baiji.

Submitted by Lycoris

Edited by Rahodeb

Tags: environment, China, dolphins, ecology



A six week search of the Yangtze River in China proved fruitless for scientists searching for signs of the baiji, also known as the white dolphin. It has been declared the first large mammal to become extinct in modern times.

For nearly six weeks, Pfluger's team of 30 scientists scoured a 1,000-mile heavily trafficked stretch of the Yangtze, where the baiji once thrived. The expedition's two boats, equipped with high-tech binoculars and underwater microphones, trailed each other an hour apart without radio contact so that a sighting by one vessel would not prejudice the other.


August Pfluger, the Swiss co-leader of the joint Chinese-foreign expedition and founder of Baiji.org, blamed apathy for his foundation's inability to raise sufficient funds to counteract the environmental impact of overfishing and shipping traffic.

The disappearance of the baiji holds up a mirror with a tragic reflection, a reflection of humanity’s inability to effectively prioritize on the basis of needs. While millions of dollars flowed into exchangeable «Save-the-Whales»-Programs, the fate of the Baiji – and the other freshwater dolphins in Asia – remained unheard.


There's the possibility that the dolphin is still to be found in eastern China, but it won't be in the numbers needed for a sustainable population. Even if scientists were able to find a pair to breed in captivity, there must be sufficient genetic diversity in order to maintain a healthy group.

The Baiji.org Foundation will now turn its efforts to the conservation of other freshwater dolphin species, such as the Yangtze finless porpoise.

Unfortunately, it's likely this won't be the last extinction we see in our lifetimes.

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Comments
Rahodeb

Rahodeb

Los Angeles, CA
March 2006

DEC 14, 2006 05:07 PM

"Unfortunately, it's likely this won't be the last extinction we see in our lifetimes."

http://suicidegirls.com/news/culture/15585/

MrStitches

MrStitches

Brooklyn, NY
November 2003

DEC 14, 2006 05:23 PM

There is a good piece in Douglas Adams' "Last Chance to See" about how the Baiji were endangered in the 80s because of all the motorboat traffic on the Yangtze. It's a great book about several then endangered species, though I'm not sure of the status of the other animals in the book now.

emperorreagan

emperorreagan

Baltimore, MD
January 2004

DEC 14, 2006 06:20 PM

I'm surprised anything at all was still living in the Yangtze, given the level of pollution.

Rahodeb

Rahodeb

Los Angeles, CA
March 2006

DEC 14, 2006 06:54 PM

emperorreagan said:
I'm surprised anything at all was still living in the Yangtze, given the level of pollution.



yeah, sad to think about what life was like.

IDGAS

IDGAS

Boston, MA
March 2004

DEC 14, 2006 06:58 PM

Makes me proud to be a human top species and all that.

JohnClement

JohnClement

Silver Spring, MD
January 2004

DEC 14, 2006 07:01 PM

I was completely unaware until I read this in the newspaper this morning. This is really sad; it is/was such a neat, unique animal.

PRockGirlScout

PRockGirlScout

Portland, OR
October 2005

DEC 14, 2006 07:06 PM

I blame the endangered species chocolate company for not having a white dolphin bar.

Seriously though, this sucks.

oldaccount000

oldaccount000

I'm lost
October 2006

DEC 14, 2006 07:07 PM

Fucking Chinese government! Token panda appreciation but no ecological maintenance. I sincerely hope this is not true, I watched an Attenborough documentary when I was younger on these guys and was became fascinated by them. This is bad news.

undershaker

undershaker

Milwaukee, WI
November 2004

DEC 14, 2006 07:37 PM

At least they'll never be able to evolve opposable thumbs, then rule us all.

TearingRaven

TearingRaven

Las Vegas, NV
May 2006

DEC 14, 2006 07:38 PM

Hippies hippies everywhere, but not a one can think.

Lycoris

Lycoris

Toronto, ON
October 2005

DEC 14, 2006 08:24 PM

Helen_Jupiter said:
"Unfortunately, it's likely this won't be the last extinction we see in our lifetimes."

http://suicidegirls.com/news/culture/15585/


Well it's interesting that you point that out, Helen, considering the ending I actually submitted for the article was

Unfortunately, we have a lot more announcements like this in our future.

MrStitches

MrStitches

Brooklyn, NY
November 2003

DEC 14, 2006 08:30 PM

TearingRaven said:
Hippies hippies everywhere, but not a one can think.



Beg pardon?

PRockGirlScout

PRockGirlScout

Portland, OR
October 2005

DEC 14, 2006 08:31 PM

Lycoris said:

Helen_Jupiter said:
"Unfortunately, it's likely this won't be the last extinction we see in our lifetimes."

http://suicidegirls.com/news/culture/15585/


Well it's interesting that you point that out, Helen, considering the ending I actually submitted for the article was

Unfortunately, we have a lot more announcements like this in our future.



Haha. That's lame. She could have just quoted your ending and put her link up instead of co-opting your writing.

PRockGirlScout

PRockGirlScout

Portland, OR
October 2005

DEC 14, 2006 08:32 PM

MrStitches said:

TearingRaven said:
Hippies hippies everywhere, but not a one can think.



Beg pardon?



How many 19 year old emo kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

SPOILERS! (Click to view)
None, they're still burning whale blubber for light.

ahd

ahd

Graham, NC
January 2003

DEC 14, 2006 08:38 PM

Animals have always gone extinct, and always will. It's why we aren't living on a big ass pile of animals right now.

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