Save Baiji dolphin from extinction
- by: Carolyn Smith
- recipient: Chinese Government and department for tourism
You may recently have read the heartbreaking report of a mother dolphin filmed by a tourist vessel carrying her calf in Sanniang Bay off Qinzhou City on July 8. It seemed the mother was trying to keep her calf afloat. It wasn't until the boat got close that the tourists realized that the baby calf was dead, and had been for several days. The calf had long cuts across it's belly and it is thought, ironically that a tourist boat propeller was almost certainly responsible for the fatal wounds.
In 2006 news broke that the Baiji Yangtze River Dolphin had been declared extinct... despite conservation efforts to save this beautiful creature. The Baiji—the Yangtze River Dolphin—was so beautiful. Along the river, legends abound of its origin from the metamorphosis of a tragically drowned maiden. For years it was known that the Baiji was at serious risk from the highly polluted river, snagged and electrocuted by indiscriminate fishing methods, cut and torn by the propellers of heavy boat traffic. Everyone spoke of saving the Baiji. And yet the Baiji is gone.
I am asking you to please sign my petition, to pledge that you will not take part in any tourist boat trips on the rivers of China until there are serious and immediate efforts made by the Chinese Government and the tourism industry of China, to find alternative ways for tourists to enjoy this magnificent country without driving the native animals to extinction just like the Yangtze River Dolphin. We must not let this happen again.
Dear Sirs
You will be aware of the recent report from Sanniang Bay off Qinzhou City, in which tourists witnessed a mother dolphin carrying her dead calf for several days. The calf died of massive cuts across it's stomach, more than likely caused by the propellers of one of the tourist boats on that river.
In 2006 news broke that the Baiji Yangtze River Dolphin had been declared extinct... despite conservation efforts to save this beautiful creature. The Baiji—the Yangtze River Dolphin—was so beautiful. Along the river, legends abound of its origin from the metamorphosis of a tragically drowned maiden. For years it was known that the Baiji was at serious risk from the highly polluted river, snagged and electrocuted by indiscriminate fishing methods, cut and torn by the propellers of heavy boat traffic. Everyone spoke of saving the Baiji. And yet the Baiji is gone.
I am aware that these magnificent animals are a source of great interest to tourists, and contribute greatly to the success and fortune of the Chinese Tourism Industry. These creatures must be cared for and respected as they live only in these areas and are precious. I would like to ask that immediate measures are taken to introduce eco-tourism in these river areas. The tourist boats must be changed for a kind less destructive to the environment. Pollution is also a contributary factor to the loss of these dolphins and other creatures, and must be addressed, not only for the environment but for the local people too. With this in mind i will be pledging NOT to take a boat trip on any Chinese rivers, and in fact will consider very seriously not making a holiday visit to China.
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