A shutterbug's passion for finless porpoises in the Yangtze

"I first encountered a finless porpoise as a teenager when there were far fewer boats on the Yangtze River. I would frequently observe them trailing boats as they made their way down the river," Yang says, adding that as human activity increased, finless porpoises became rare along the Yichang section of the river.

Over the past few decades, there has been a substantial decrease in the finless porpoise population, primarily caused by overfishing and excessive human activity. However, significant measures have been implemented to reverse the fate of this species.

In 2017, Yang was fortunate enough to spot a finless porpoise after a long gap and capture a photo of it. By 2019, he was able to snap even more photos, including images of the porpoises skillfully catching fish near the riverbank.

"This is a distinctive sight in Yichang and serves as evidence of the improved ecological condition in the Yangtze River basin," Yang says.

Today, pods of these captivating creatures can once again be observed leaping above the water's surface, allowing enthusiastic shutterbugs and local residents to marvel at their beauty.

"I will continue to capture their beauty as long as I am able to hold a camera and keep a vigilant eye on them," Yang says, adding that he will make it his life's mission to document this remarkable creature.

Xinhua