Biology Reference
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naturally or died accidentally, there were approximately 30 individuals living in the reserve at
the end of 2007 (Table 1). In early spring of 2008, a huge, long time lasting snow storm swept
through southern China, causing the Tian-e-Zhou oxbow to be almost completely covered by
ice which had never previously happened. Five porpoises were confirmed died because of
wounds caused by ice when they were trying to break it to breathe. By a rescue operation for
treating wounded animals in April 2008, five of eight matured females were confirmed
pregnant. Currently if adding these five new born calves, presumably more than 27
individuals are living in the area (Table 1). ―Thus, a viable population capable of breeding
and expanding has been established. This effort represents the world's first attempt and a
successful example of ex situ preservation of a cetacean species‖ (Wang et al., 2005). As
Braulik et al. (2006) pointed out ―China's successful program of capture, translocation and
maintenance of finless porpoise in the Shishou oxbow has demonstrated the oxbow's
adequacy as an ex situ environment for cetaceans‖. The successful story of Shishou Tian-e-
Zhou Reserve has shed light on the protection of the Yangtze finless porpoise.
One other smaller scale semi-natural reserve was set up in Tongling of Anhui Province in
1994 (Figure 1). This reserve is located in a small channel (1.6 km long, and 80 - 220 m wide)
between two sandbars of the Yangtze River. A small group of 5 porpoises were introduced
into the channel in 2001, and one calf was born there in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008
respectively (Wenhua Jiang, personal communication).
Table 1. Establishment of the Yangtze finless porpoise breeding colony in the Tian-e-
Zhou National Natural Reserve. Pregnant females in the Yangtze (+) and reserve (++)
are noted as well as the least confirmed population size of the current colony (*). This
number reflects 13 males and 9 females (8 matured females), five of which were
confirmed pregnant in April 2008.
No. of
porpoises
introduced
No. of
porpoises
born in the
reserve
No.
of
Loss
Source
Location
Dates
Loss Reasons
Remained
F.
M.
Mar, 1990
Chenglingji
3
2
--
--
5
Spring, 1990
--
--
--
2+
--
--
7
2 deaths/One infant was killed
accidentally by rolling hooks,
one male died on April 25, 1990
from injuries during capture.
Apr, 1990
--
--
--
--
2
5
Spring, 1992
--
--
--
1++
--
--
6
1 death/ One male was killed
accidentally by rolling hooks.
--
--
--
--
1
5
May 28, 1992
Apr, 1993
Chenglingji
3
2
3+
--
--
13
1 death/One infant was found
dead on April 26, 1993, born
prematurely due to capture.
Apr, 1993
--
--
--
--
1
12
7
deaths/seven
killed
Oct 18,1993
--
--
--
--
7
5
accidentally.
May, 1995
Chenglingji
1
2
1+
--
--
9
Dec 6, 1995
Chenglingji
2
2
--
--
--
13
Apr 20, 1996
Jianli
3
2
2+
--
--
20
Jun
-
Aug,
14 escaped into the Yangtze
river
--
--
--
--
14
6
1996
Chenglingji
& Shishou
Dec, 1996
5
9
--
--
--
20
15 released into the Yangtze
river
Spring, 1997
--
--
--
--
15
5
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