Chinese River Dolphin

The Chinese river dolphin is a freshwater dolphin and one of the most endangered animals on Earth. It is found in the Yangtze River in China. Under the Endangered Species Act, NOAA Fisheries must list threatened and endangered marine species regardless of where they are found. The Chinese river dolphin is listed as endangered under the ESA. In addition, it is listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

During November and December 2006, an international research team including biologists from NOAA Fisheries conducted an intensive six-week multi-vessel visual and acoustic survey covering the entire historical range of the Chinese river dolphin in the main Yangtze channel between Yichang and Shanghai. By the end of the expedition, the team failed to find any evidence that the species survives and concluded that the Chinese river dolphin may now be extinct. Since then, there have been periodic, undocumented claims of sightings of the Chinese river dolphin, but it is unlikely that a few individuals would be able to perpetuate the species considering the existing threats in the Yangtze River and the survival potential of small populations.