The Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis), a nationally protected wild animal, is hailed as the "giant panda of the sea," with a global population of only about 6,000.
Over the past 20 years, the population of Chinese white dolphins living in the waters of Leizhou Bay in Zhanjiang has not only ranked second in the world in terms of numbers but has also remained stable and grown steadily, often forming groups of tens or even hundreds of individuals.
Research has shown that the Chinese white dolphin is a flagship and indicator species of nearshore marine ecosystems, rarely venturing into waters deeper than 25 meters. Its primary habitats are mangrove waterways, bays, tropical river deltas, or coastal brackish waters.
With three sides facing the sea, Zhanjiang boasts superior marine ecosystems, providing an ideal habitat for Chinese white dolphins.
According to statistics, Zhanjiang has a nearshore marine area of approximately 15,000 square kilometers and a mainland coastline of 1,243.7 kilometers, accounting for 30.2 percent of the province's mainland coastline. It has three typical marine ecosystems: mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds, with more than 2,000 species of coastal marine organisms.
Planner | Cao Si
Coordinator | Zhang Zhe, Liu Zikui, Li Hengdan
Text | Li Hengdan, Deng Wei, Clarice
Video | Zhang Ruiwei, Huang Zewei, Wingheng
Video Editor | Xie Miaofeng, Ou Xiaoming
English Editor | Steven, Monica, James
