Endangered Ark

Baiji River Dolphin

Lipotes vexillifer

2 of Clubs

Art by Amber ‘Vantid’ Hill

http://vantid.artspots.com/

vantid@gmail.com

California

In 2006 the Baiji, or Yangtze River Dolphin, was declared functionally extinct. This means that if there are baiji still alive, the population is too small to sustain a healthy genetic pool for continued survival. There is still a chance these fine creatures will pull through but the odds are slim.

In Chinese mythology the baiji is the reincarnation of a princess who was drowned for not marrying a man she did not love. The River took pity on the poor girl and brought her back as the Goddess of the River. The baiji is a symbol of peace and prosperity.

It’s too late for baiji. Hundreds of people tried to save them, bless them, but they couldn’t. Efforts are now in motion to save the other endangered cetacean in the Yangtze River, the finless porpoise.