R.I.P. Chinese River Dolphin, 20 million BC - 2006 AD

[Boyinabox]

You've probably never heard or cared about it but the Baiji or Chinese River Dolphin has been declared extinct after a 45 day expedition down the Yangtze river found no dolphins.
But why should people care?
Well the Baiji is the first large mammal in the past 50 years to go extinct. With most other large mammal species on the fall as well, 5000 gorillas alone have died of ebola in the past few months, it seems almost certain that unless we act to protect them and their habitats that many others will certantly follow.

So spare a thought for the baiji and hope that we can prevent it from being followed by more unique species.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6179407.stm
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/21/Chinese_River_Dolphin.jpg
:(

[/eco-rant over]

[basstard]

In other dolphin-related news, world's tallest man saves Chinese dolphins by using his long arms (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6178659.stm).

[Shiny]

Make me laugh* that once they said the Yangtze was too big to pollute and now this happens.

* in a bitter, "what is the world coming to" sort of way

[Redux]

Good night, sweet prince.

[thecaterpillar]

I read it on the Metro this morning. Pretty sad but I think everything will extinct someday.

[allfalldown]

Pretty sad but I think everything will extinct someday.I hope humans are high on the list.

[DangerMouse]

What a ridiculous thing to say

[Meatwad]

Hell, redux got to it first....

I'll go make a PICTURE to top it. HA!

[BiggyG]

maybe all the river dolphins got flushed out to sea?

its not like they're salmon and can swim upstream.

[katt]

i feel really geeky but im actually saddened by this news... i remember reading about these dolphins in grade school thinking they were neat. hope the river dolphins in the amazon dont follow suit....... (even though i think they have a furtive look about them)

[AngryPaul]

BUT THE GORILLAS ARE NEXT!





Do something. :(

[Dante!]

This is sad news. :(

and quite shocking! how can a mongolian man be the tallest living man in the world? I though all east asians were renowned for their short stature.

[allfalldown]

This is sad news. :(

and quite shocking! how can a mongolian man be the tallest living man in the world? I though all east asians were renowned for their short stature.He exists to restore the balance.

[Hydralisk]

Don't stereotype people please, I have a chinese Friend who is just about six foot tall, just 2 inches shy of me.

and yes, this is sad indeed, but it is only the beginning methinks :/

[eidderf]

This reminds of that new program on ITV1, apparently you have to vote for the animal you want to save from extinction. Seems a bit wrong to be honest.

[Cactusman]

This reminds of that new program on ITV1, apparently you have to vote for the animal you want to save from extinction. Seems a bit wrong to be honest.
Yes, I totally agree with what you say. It is very unfair that you have to choose one animal to save. What if you're an animal rights campaignist watches it. Or something.

[Dante!]

Don't stereotype people please, I have a chinese Friend who is just about six foot tall, just 2 inches shy of me.

and yes, this is sad indeed, but it is only the beginning methinks :/

I'm sorry if i offended you. It was only a bit of a laugh, and i wouldn't be bothered if someone stereotyped me for a joke at all. Monty Python even wrote a song about chinese, and various stereotypical views of them (including shortness), and that got published. I know/knew a few chinese people and they're fantastic. They're all about average height, so i didn't mean to cause any offence.

[Redux]

Don't stereotype people please, I have a chinese Friend who is just about six foot tall, just 2 inches shy of me.

and yes, this is sad indeed, but it is only the beginning methinks :/

http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/8008/ps3cu9.jpg

[livewirekitty]

*Shakes head* The beauty of nature being destroyed for progress. Seems like a poor trade.