Such glimpses of the shy Yangtze finless porpoise, the only aquatic mammal left in China's longest river and known in Chinese as the "smiling angel" for its perma-grin, are increasingly rare. China's government estimates there were 1,012 wild Yangtze finless porpoises in 2017, compared to more than 1,800 giant pandas, which is no longer endangered. - 'River pig' -The finless porpoise is mentioned in ancient Chinese poems and has been considered a harbinger of rain. - Clock is ticking -With the clock ticking, a research facility in the nearby industrial city of Wuhan hosts six finless porpoises for research, breeding, and to engage the public. The WWF says adult Yangtze finless porpoises have the intelligence of a three-to-five-year-old child.

Source: Bangkok Post December 20, 2018 04:41 UTC