The Baiji Dolphin is No More

“The Baiji is functionally extinct”, the sad announcement comes from August Pfluger, the co-organizer of The Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Expedition 2006.

The expedition ended today, 13 December, without any sightings or other signs of the Baiji dolphin.

As I wrote in my Desperate search for dolphin on the Yangtze post in November, the six-week expedition consisted of two research vessels scouring the Yangtze for signs of the last remaining baiji freshwater dolphins.

While it is possible that the scientists missed a few dolphins, they believe that any Baiji still living in the Yangtze has no chance of survival. Illegal fishing and the increasing number of ships on the Yangtze are blamed for the extinction of the Baiji.

One of the world’s oldest fresh-water mammals is no more!

Source: The baiji.org Foundation web site >>.

Technorati Tags: Baiji, dolphin, extinct, Yangtze