Data sources:Wei et al. Thomas A. Jefferson, a marine mammal biologist with Clymene Enterprises in Lakeside, California, has written extensively about at-risk dolphins and other cetacean species. info), Lipotes vexillifer, Lipotes meaning "left behind", vexillifer "flag bearer") is a possibly extinct species of freshwater dolphin, and is thought to be the first dolphin species driven to extinction due to the impact of humans. Answer. Socialization is a big part of life for these dolphins. There is still plenty that has to be learned about this dolphin. An animal is in danger if it has a classification in the Red List starting from the Vulnerable category. They are believed to forge very deep bonds within the pod. at the Tian’e-Zhou oxbow lake in Hubei Province. Part of their survival is highly dependent upon conservation efforts. – Chilean dolphin (Cephalorhynchus eutropia). Dolphins live in an environment in which threats from predators, although rare, are possible. The amount of habitat suitable for baijis was greatly reduced due to industrial scale dam construction and port development along the length of the river. The suit also claims that fishermen in Taiji routinely flout catch limits set by the government. That doesn’t just apply to dolphins, though – the same thing happens to cattle.”. Dam construction interrupted the river’s natural flow, reduced fish abundance, and prevented free movement of baijis in the river. The Baiji was a freshwater dolphin found in the Yangtze River in The number of dolphins is fewer and fewer while the distribution range is generally narrowing also. They do have teeth on the upper and lower jaws. Keep up-to-date with all the news from WDC and the world of whales and dolphins. The total teeth ranges from 30 to 36. They tend to get their food often from the bottom of the water where it is muddy. “We are trying to depoliticise the debate.”. The mighty Yangtze River in China was the baiji’s home for 20 million years. Baiji Dolphin Distribution. They use the process of echolocation to help them do so. Conservationists insist that the capture process itself is resulting in more deaths and the transportation, the exposure to diseases in captivity tanks, are added dangers that dolphins have to face when extracted from their natural environment. The Three Gorges Dam was doubtless the last straw for the baiji and ensured that the natural Yangtze ecosystem has gone forever. Judith S Weis. Vulnerable. There have been no confirmed baiji sightings since before 2006. The baiji faced a range of threats from human activities, especially bycatch and habitat destruction. They were frequently snagged and trapped on hooks attached to longlines placed on the riverbed; entangled in gillnets; and killed by electric shocks used in electrofishing. There are only a handful of species of dolphins that can live in freshwater, and the Baiji Dolphin is one of them. There is no hair found on the Baiji Dolphin and you will notice that compared to other dolphins, the eyes are high up on the head. Available for everyone, funded by readers. Who is the longest reigning WWE Champion of all time? Near Threatened. Vulnerable. Construction of the first dam across the mainstream of the Yangtze River - the Gezhouba Dam - began in 1970. Do you know that some dolphin species are in danger of extinction? How long does a fresh turkey last in the refrigerator? Registered Charity (England and Wales) No. Endangered. Run, bake, walk, cycle… what could you do for whales and dolphins? Critically Endangered. It should be a wake up call, the baiji is a sentinel species, a canary in the mine - we have to redouble our efforts and energies and prevent the same fate happening to the world's surviving river dolphins. The last Baiji Dolphin was confirmed to be seen in that river in 2006 so they are now regarded as being functionally extinct. Together, we can: By adopting a whale or dolphin, by making a donation, or by fundraising for WDC, you can help us provide a safe future for these amazing creatures. They were pronounced extinct in 2007 following the failure of a dedicated 6-week expedition in 2006 to find a single one. A December 2006 survey found no members of Lipotes vexillifer (commonly known as the baiji, or Chinese river dolphin) and declared the species functionally extinct . Early on in the industrialisation process baijis were hunted for meat, oil and leather. You will likely hear the Baiji Dolphin referred to as a variety of other names but they are all the same one. July 25, 2019 4:50 pm.