Yangtze Finless Porpoise

Why in news?

• Previous reports had shown the porpoise were pushed out of certain stretches of their habitat due to sand mining.
• The Chinese government announced a crackdown on illegal sand mining along the entire length of the river Yangtze.

Key facts about Yangtze finless porpoise

• The Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia is home to these porpoises. 
• Yangtze finless porpoise is known for its mischievous smile and has a level of intelligence comparable to that of a gorilla.
• These are very small compared to whales and slow-moving inhabitants
• These are good indicators of the health of their environment.
• Conservation status:
•  IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

 

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Q1) What is Indicator species?

An indicator species is an organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition. Indicator species can signal a change in the biological condition of a particular ecosystem.

Source : Critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise return to lost lake stretches after sand mining ban: Report