TONGLING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- With a slightly curved mouth, the finless porpoise is often called the "smiling angel" of the Yangtze by Chinese.
Established in 2000, the Tongling Freshwater Dolphins National Nature Reserve in east China's Anhui Province enclosed a corner of the Yangtze creating an ideal habitat for the porpoises.
The number of the endangered finless porpoises in the reserve has increased from 4 to 12 in recent years thanks to the ecological improvement of the Yangtze River and the breeders' considerate care.
In Tongling, Anqing and other cities along the Yangtze River, patrol teams consisting of former fishermen and volunteers work regularly to protect the porpoises. With the effects of policies such as the 10-year fishing ban in the pivotal waters of the Yangtze River, more wild finless porpoises are seen in the river.
This photo taken on March 3, 2021 shows a Yangtze finless porpoise in the Tongling Freshwater Dolphins National Nature Reserve in Tongling, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
This aerial photo taken on Nov. 11, 2020 shows the Tongling Freshwater Dolphins National Nature Reserve in Tongling, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)
This photo taken on March 3, 2021 shows a Yangtze finless porpoise in the Tongling Freshwater Dolphins National Nature Reserve in Tongling, east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
A breeder feeds a Yangtze finless porpoise in the Tongling Freshwater Dolphins National Nature Reserve in Tongling, east China's Anhui Province, Nov. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)
Produced by Xinhua Global Service■
