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Missing dolphin

A YANGTZE RIVER DOLPHIN: Qi Qi. PHOTO: AP

A six-week search of China's Yangtze showed no sign of "the goddess of the Yangtze", leading to fears that the rare Chinese river dolphin, baiji, may now be extinct. If confirmed, the small white dolphin is the first large aquatic mammal after the Caribbean monk seal to become extinct due to over-exploitation. In 1997, the last such search saw 13 sightings. The causes for extinction are said to be over fishing, destruction of habitat, heavy traffic and building of dams. The baiji, being almost blind, uses sonar to fish for food but the heavy shipping traffic on the river confuses the animal. The disappearance of the baiji leaves five more species of freshwater dolphins in the world, of which four are found in Asia. All five are critically endangered.

COMPILED BY R. KRITHIKA

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