The finless porpoise is in distress, and life and death rescue is staged here!

On the morning of February 22nd, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province ushered in the first snowfall in the Year of the Loong. At the same time, in the backyard of Nanjing Underwater World, a rescue work concerning the fate of the Yangtze finless porpoise, a national first-class protected wild animal, is under intense progress.

The staff took the injured finless porpoise out of the pool for treatment. Photo by our reporter Zhou Mengshuang

The treatment pool is surrounded by professional rescue teams and volunteers, whose eyes are fixed on the figure in the water-a wild injured finless porpoise found in the main stream of the Yangtze River. Three staff members gently lifted the finless porpoise out of the water with a special stretcher cloth and placed it on a padded treatment table. The waiting ambulance team quickly started the diagnosis and treatment work.

The ultrasonic probe glided slowly over the chest of the finless porpoise, and the sectional image of the finless porpoise viscera was clearly presented on the display screen. The portable X-ray machine is ready for further examination of the lesion; The blood drawing needle accurately pierces the blood vessel on the caudal fin of finless porpoise, and takes the blood sample needed for laboratory analysis; Not far away, the drip stand has been set up, and the medical staff are preparing anti-inflammatory drugs … While observing the data on the screen, the experts are whispering about the condition of the finless porpoise.

The Yangtze finless porpoise is undergoing ultrasound examination. Photo by our reporter Zhou Mengshuang

Where does this Yangtze finless porpoise come from? How did you get hurt?

On February 11th, the second day of the Lunar New Year, while Nanjing citizens were immersed in the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival, the members of the photography team of the Nanjing finless porpoise Aquatic Biological Protection Association still stuck to the coastline of the Yangtze River to photograph and monitor the Yangtze finless porpoise. "In the afternoon, a team member sent a group of worrying photos of the finless porpoise to the work group. In the picture, the tail of the finless porpoise was scarred and attached with a large number of abnormal vegetation, and there were some traces of entanglement on it. We judged that the injury was likely to threaten the life of the finless porpoise and immediately reported the relevant situation to the Nanjing Yangtze finless porpoise provincial nature reserve management station. " Jiang Meng, secretary general of the Nanjing finless porpoise aquatic biology protection association, said.

The Yangtze finless porpoise is undergoing X-ray examination. Our reporter Zhou Mengshuang photo

A rescue against time began. On February 13th, Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Greening and Landscape Architecture organized experts to hold an emergency meeting to judge the injury and rescue plan of finless porpoise, and entrusted the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences to organize and implement the search and rescue mission of injured finless porpoise. On the evening of February 15th, six scientific research and monitoring vessels and more than 50 professional ambulance crews from two provinces and three places were assembled in place. On the morning of February 16th, the search and rescue fleet was dispatched decisively, and the injured finless porpoise was successfully searched and rescued on board at 11: 15 that morning.

"The hydrological conditions in the main stream of the Yangtze River are complex, and there are many navigable ships. It is very difficult to catch and rescue the Yangtze finless porpoise. The rescue process requires the skilled cooperation of many ships and the combination of various nets. Thanks to the work experience accumulated by our normalized finless porpoise rescue and emergency drills, this fishing and rescue operation was very smooth, and it was the first successful case in China to carry out active fishing and rescue for injured finless porpoises in the mainstream of the Yangtze River. " Liu Kai, a researcher at the Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, said.

The Yangtze finless porpoise is active in the treatment pool. Photo by our reporter Zhou Mengshuang

After examination, it was confirmed that the injured finless porpoise was female, aged about 5 years. The initial diagnosis of the injury was that the tail fin and tail stalk were infected by debris, and there were 5 hyperplastic tissues, and the lungs were infected to some extent, which was serious. As of February 22, the injured finless porpoise has received the first-stage emergency treatment for 6 days, and whether the treatment work is effective or not affects the hearts of everyone in the team.

"Blood tests show that the immune function of finless porpoise has recovered, and the symptoms of anemia have improved significantly, but there are still infections; Image examination showed that the lung inflammation of finless porpoise was initially controlled. The ulcerated lesions on the body surface are gradually healing, and the symptoms of suppuration basically disappear … "At noon on February 22, Liu Kai took the test report that had just been released, and his brow, which had been tight for several days, gradually stretched out. "Although the phased results have been achieved, we can’t take it lightly! The rescue of cetaceans and dolphins is a worldwide problem. In particular, there are few cases of diagnosis and treatment of injured finless porpoises. We must further rely on the collective strength of the treatment team to optimize the treatment and nursing plan and do our best to help finless porpoises recover as soon as possible. " Liu Kai said.

Medical staff are taking blood samples from the Yangtze finless porpoise. Photo by our reporter Zhou Mengshuang

Jiang Meng also breathed a sigh of relief after receiving the news that the Yangtze finless porpoise was in stable condition. "Come on, I’ll take you to the active section of the Yangtze finless porpoise, which is in the main city of Nanjing!"

After coming to the Yangtze River Smile Station near the Gulou River in Nanjing, in just 10 minutes, the reporter saw more than a dozen finless porpoises coming out of the water for air. Their smart figures jumped on the river as if dancing with snowflakes. "Nanjing has a history of more than 3,000 years, and it has been a neighbor of the Yangtze finless porpoise for more than 3,000 years. It is our responsibility to protect them. At this time, there are many female dolphins pregnant in October in the river, and they are feeding their offspring in this rushing river, and they are endless! " Jiang Meng’s words are full of power along the Yangtze River in the heavy snow.

(Guangming Daily full media reporter Zhou Mengshuang)

Original title: "The finless porpoise is in distress, and life and death rescue is staged here! 》

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