The Yangtze River Dolphins Are So Hungry They Can't Even Get Enough, Even After Eating
Between 2012 and 2014, the Institute of Hydrobiont Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a large number of dolphin mortalities, and found that the stomachs were almost empty, with only a few bones and scraps left. There are many non-normal deaths of Chinese river dolphins every year, of which a large part is caused by ships' propellers hitting them. Young dolphins are particularly vulnerable, as they often lack sufficient survival experience, and the cost of trial and error is too high.
Leaping dolphins
Non-normal natural deaths of dolphins in natural waters (killed by propellers) generally leave food residue in the stomach, and the cases of dissection are very abnormal. Moreover, the individuals dissected are obviously thinner than dolphins in the protected areas. Could it be that the hunting ability of adolescent dolphins is not strong, which leads to hunger? However, when researchers conducted in-depth investigation, they discovered an unexpected result.
Researchers found an anomaly during field investigations. Generally, Chinese river dolphins are not as solitary as white dolphins and will avoid crowds, they are like neighborhood girls, full of curiosity, and sometimes approach human activity areas. However, experienced dolphins will consciously avoid areas with propellers, especially busy docks, and stay away.
The death of stranded dolphins
Researchers found through sonar detection that docks frequently have dolphin activity. Their activity is very regular: they stay away when ships enter and leave, and return when the ships dock or leave. This phenomenon is not an isolated case, but a common phenomenon. Because they frequently enter these 'high-risk' areas, dolphins' non-normal deaths are inevitable. In addition, some fishermen have a hostile attitude towards dolphins, believing they steal their food, and some extreme fishermen still make the action of harming dolphins.
Dolphins found dead by the river
Later research confirmed that dolphins venture into docks for foodFood shortage is a serious problem facing freshwater dolphins in the environment. Many of us have ignored it. Because docks often have food discarded by people, they have become gathering places for fish, and dolphins can only risk approaching docks to forage for food. The scarcity of fisheries resources in the Yangtze River has been evident for many years, and the malnutrition of dolphins has become an indicator.Not all dolphins have good luck living in protected areas. Wild fishing by illegal fishermen has taken a lot of hardship for these top predators. Especially the shocking electric fish. In 2012, in Dongting Lake, a group of illegal fishermen went crazy with electric fish, catching several thousand kilograms in one night, and used cement boats to pack the fish, selling the big ones for meat and the small ones as feed. And this is just a case. Even the vast Yangtze River cannot withstand such reckless fishing.
Seized electric fish equipment
Various electric fish equipment seized by protection personnel are piled up every few months. Various sizes of batteries are these inconspicuous devices are the ultimate killer of fish. Some voltage is particularly high, hanging on the bottom of the boat, sweeping a large area, followed by a boat hoisting fish, the harvest of one night from a few hundred kilograms to several thousand kilograms.
Not only dolphins' food is consumed by such illegal fishing, many dolphins are also injured and killed by these electric fishSuch situations, especially after the implementation of the ten-year ban on fishing, are gradually changing
Many official and non-governmental ecological protection NGOs are established and joined local fishermen who had retired from fishing into local water patrolsAlthough China has a large area of freshwater water bodies, it is difficult to cover them all. With the continued implementation of the ban, the participation of various organizations, the phenomenon of oversight will inevitably be greatly relieved, and this is crucial for the recovery of fisheries resources in natural water areasWater patrol teams in enforcement
As the only remaining mammal in the Yangtze River, dolphins are luckier than white dolphins. Although in 2012, there were only 1045 heads, thanks to proper protection measures, in the survey in 2017, the level was maintained and did not continue to fall off a cliff. Having nothing to eat is just a threat. Environmental pollution, shipping, dredging, dams, etc. constantly threaten these creatures.
Just beginning ten-year ban on fishing, whether it can bring a turning point for dolphins and other aquatic animals' fate is yet to be seen.
