Experts race to save Chinese white dolphin spotted in south China river
- Animal seen in Xi River in Guangxi could be at risk if it is unable to return to open waters, news report says
- Chinese white dolphins, which are known for their pink colouring and friendly nature, have first-class state protection in China
The government of Wuzhou was quoted as saying in a report by Nanguo Morning Post on Saturday that the animal, also known as the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, had been spotted in the river, which flows through the city in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
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Race to save ‘panda of the ocean’ after rare Chinese white dolphin spotted far from usual habitat
The official confirmation came after video footage of the dolphin was widely shared online on Friday afternoon. It was first sighted on the south side of the Xi, close to Yangjiang Bridge, but quickly disappeared after apparently becoming unnerved by approaching boats, the report said.
Wuzhou officials were quoted as saying the dolphin was about one to 1.5 metres (three to five feet) long and weighed about 100kg (220lbs).
Chinese white dolphins have first-class state protection in China and have been on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species since 2008. Due to their rarity, in China they are often referred to as “pandas of the ocean”.
Known for their pink colouring and friendly nature, the dolphins are usually found in coastal waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans, including the brackish waters of the Pearl River estuary. The Xi flows into the Pearl in the southeast of Guangxi.
