Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It appears that the first species of whale and dolphin (cetaceans) that has been described by scientists has become extinct. The Baiji or Yangtze River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) was first described about 100 years ago. In the 1950's there were an estimated 5 to 6 thousand of these beautiful dolphins living in the Yangtze River of China. Over the decades their numbers crashed due to poor use of the river including irresponsible fishing practices and pollution. These dolphins have existed for 20 million years and were not closely related to any of the surviving river dolphins. This last November and part of December teams of scientists from six different nations sailed about 1000 miles up the Yangtze River looking for signs of these dolphins. None were found. The scientists conceded that there might be a few dolphins around in unchecked isolated areas of the river. But so few dolphins would be found that the species is considered "functionally extinct." There is some good information and looking up this species on the web shouldn't be difficult.

The world's biggest freshwater fish, also in that river, is tracing the dolphin's path. I wish I could buy time share on the Yangtze.