Why in news?
- Previous reports had shown the porpoise were pushed out of certain stretches of their habitat due to sand mining.
- The Chinese government announced a crackdown on illegal sand mining along the entire length of the river Yangtze.
Key facts about Yangtze finless porpoise
- The Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia is home to these porpoises.
- Yangtze finless porpoise is known for its mischievous smile and has a level of intelligence comparable to that of a gorilla.
- These are very small compared to whales and slow-moving inhabitants
- These are good indicators of the health of their environment.
- Conservation status:
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
