Fauna
Mammal

Baiji

Lipotes vexillifer

Also known as Chinese River Dolphin, Yangtze River Dolphin, Whitefin Dolphin

Baiji were graceful freshwater cetaceans that navigated the turbid, silt-laden waters of the Yangtze River using a highly refined biosonar system. Their tiny, degenerate eyes offered negligible vision, so individuals relied on clicks and whistles emitted through a rounded melon to hunt benthic fish and communicate across murky currents. Once revered as benevolent river guardians by local boatmen, catastrophic declines driven by motorized vessel traffic, rolling-hook fishing lines, and industrial development rendered them functionally extinct by the early 2000s.

AquaticFreshwaterEcholocating
Baiji reference
(c) Tangdadi, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyCommon carp, Chinese minnow, Yellow catfish
ThreatsIncidental bycatch in gillnets and rolling hooks, motorized vessel strikes, dam construction, and severe chemical pollution
HabitatsMain river channels, oxbow lakes, and eddy systems of the middle and lower Yangtze basin
Life span20–24 years
Classification
  1. FamilyLipotidae
  2. SpeciesLipotes vexillifer
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for a pale bluish-gray back, white belly, very long narrow beak upturned at the tip, and a low triangular dorsal fin resembling a flag.
Support conservation
Maintain complete acoustic silence, keep boats at a great distance, and immediately document the encounter with high-resolution imagery.
Responsible observation
  • Report sightings immediately: Contact Chinese fishery authorities or cetacean conservation groups with verifiable date, time, and photo evidence.
  • Engine protocol: Cut motorized boat engines if an unconfirmed cetacean surfaces nearby to prevent propeller strikes.
Related species
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