Baiji

Average Size

Newborns: 32-35 inches

Weight: 6-11 lb

Adults: 4-8 feet

Weight: 220-355 lb

Status: Endangered

Population: 150-200

Threats: For the Baiji are getting trapped and tangled in fish nets, hunting, the destruction of their habitat, human disturbance, and pollution of the waters they live in.

Quick facts:

Very little is known about the Baiji.

Only a very specimens have been observed because this animal is difficult to study in the wild.

The Baiji is easily frightened and usually next to impossible to approach by a boat.

Sometimes this dolphin is seen swimming with the Finless Porpoise.

The most active time for these animals are from early in the evening to early in the morning.

This species is probably the most endangered of all the cetaceans.

Other Names Used:

Yangtze River Dolphin

Beiji

Pei C’hi

Whitefin Dolphin

Chinese River Dolphin

Group Size: Is usually 3-4 or 1-6 at a time. If they are in a good feeding area, more will join them to make a larger group.

Behavior: While this animal can be harder to find in choppy conditions, during the active periods, it will swim very rapid with much changes in direction and style. For example it often will swim on its back or on its side. They will also go on frequent short dives. When it is not as active, the Baiji will swim rather slowly and more smooth.

Where to look for Baiji: around the three gorges to the mouth of the Yangtze River in China.

Calves:

Blow: The Baiji’s blow is very hard to see, but the sound of it sounds as to be a high-pitched sneeze and can be heard when close in the range to them.

Flukes: They are very seldom seen above the surface of the water.

Diet: These dolphins eat a certin type of fish that is a "long eel-like catfish".

Habitat: Is in the riverine waters