More than 60 Chinese and international delegates attending the "Great Rivers Forum " made a special visit to the Baiji Dolphinarium on September 27, 2025. (Credit: IHB)

More than 60 Chinese and international delegates attending the "Great Rivers Forum " made a special visit to the Baiji Dolphinarium of the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on September 27, 2025. Through facility tours, presentations, and interactive exchanges, the delegation gained in-depth understanding of the progress in Yangtze finless porpoise conservation and experienced China's achievements in ecological restoration and endangered species protection, building bridges for cross-regional and transnational cooperation in river ecology. 

Dr. HAO Yujiang, head of the IHB Yangtze Finless Porpoise Breeding and Research Center, delivered a special report on conservation progress. He detailed China's efforts to protect the endemic Yangtze finless porpoise and the story of the baiji. 

In the porpoise keeping area, delegates observed the animals up close, watching them flick their tails and occasionally leap above the water, their charming behavior drawing frequent exclamations of delight and appreciation from the audience. 

As an important field visit of the "Great Rivers Forum," the delegation included ecological protection experts, representatives from research institutions, government officials, and members of international environmental organizations from major river basins worldwide. United by shared concerns for river ecological management, they focused on the practical conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise and explored the experience and insights from China's river restoration efforts. 

Co-organized by UNESCO and the Wuhan Municipal People's Government, the "Great Rivers Forum ", under the theme "Great River Civilizations - Global Water Security and High-Quality Development," aims to build an international exchange platform to promote mutual learning among great river civilizations, and enhance water security and cooperative governance.