A newborn Chinese white dolphin has again been spotted off Nan'ao, Shantou. Researchers have named the baby dolphin "A Kang." Since it was first spotted in mid-September, A Kang has survived for more than two weeks, making it one of the longest-surviving newborn recorded through continuous monitoring in eastern Guangdong waters in recent years.
According to Zheng Ruiqiang, a marine biology PhD from Shantou University, newborn Chinese white dolphins have a survival rate of about 30 percent in the wild and are vulnerable to threats such as entanglement in fishing nets, vessel strikes and human disturbance. The Chinese white dolphin population in eastern Guangdong has declined from 16 or 17 individuals in earlier years to about 12 today, while its habitat continues to be squeezed by coastal development, nearshore aquaculture and fishing activities.
Zheng called for the prompt removal of illegal fixed fishing nets and a crackdown on electric fishing, as well as measures to reduce the density of drift gillnets in nearshore waters and strengthen vessel management. He also urged the public to keep a safe distance and avoid chasing or disturbing the dolphins when they are spotted, and to report sightings to conservation organizations or research teams.
Author: Liu Yue
Photo: Shantou Daily, Zheng Ruiqiang, Zheng Kanghua
Video: Wang Yangming
