The National Summer Camp for the Protection of Finless Porpoise for College Students opened in the town.

On July 13th, more than 40 college students from 10 universities including Sun Yat-sen University, Beijing Forestry University, Nanjing Forestry University and Jiangsu University of Science and Technology gathered in the important habitat of Yangtze finless porpoise — — Zhenjiang, jointly start a week-long trip to protect the Yangtze finless porpoise.

This summer camp is guided by Jiangsu Forestry Bureau, Zhenjiang Natural Resources and Planning Bureau (Forestry Bureau) and Jiangsu Zhenjiang Yangtze Dolphin Provincial Nature Reserve Management Office. It is co-sponsored by Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, School of Fisheries of Huazhong Agricultural University and Jingjiang College of Jiangsu University. The summer camp is also strongly supported by Hubei Yangtze River Ecological Protection Foundation, Shenzhen One Earth Nature Foundation and Jiangsu Huatai Public Welfare Foundation.

On the morning of the same day, the opening ceremony of the summer camp was held in Changshan Campus of Jiangsu University of Science and Technology. At the opening ceremony, a promotional film on the protection of finless porpoise was broadcast, and the flag and emblem of the camp were awarded.

On the afternoon of 13th, the campers visited the exhibition hall of baiji dolphin in Zhenjiang Science and Technology Museum. We watched the specimens of Baiji dolphin, Yangtze finless porpoise and Chinese sturgeon, and got the basic biological knowledge of aquatic organisms in the Yangtze River. I listened to the special popular science lecture on Yangtze finless porpoise protection given by Wang Zhaogen, deputy director of the management office of Zhenjiang Yangtze finless porpoise provincial nature reserve, Jiangsu Province, and got an in-depth understanding of the current situation, protection background, protection progress and the basic situation of Zhenjiang finless porpoise reserve. Campers also use the knowledge they have learned in lectures and venues to conduct interactive answers in groups, entertaining and entertaining, and subtly enhance their understanding of protecting the Yangtze finless porpoise.

On the morning of 14th, the campers came to the nature reserve to investigate the status quo of the finless porpoise habitat protection. They were deeply impressed by the superior natural environment of the reserve and the scenes of birds gathering together and harmonious coexistence between man and nature. Under the guidance of relevant experts, campers actively carried out activities such as plant identification and water quality testing in the protected area, and their knowledge of natural ecology practice was improved. On the morning of the same day, the summer camp was also held for proliferation and release, with a total of more than 2,000 fish, such as 6-8 cm long mullet, and nearly 100,000 fish, such as silver carp and silver carp, which were 5 cm long, playing a positive role in the increase of feed fish and the restoration of biodiversity in the finless porpoise reserve.

Established in 2003, Jiangsu Zhenjiang Yangtze Dolphin Provincial Nature Reserve, with a total area of 57.3 square kilometers, is the earliest aquatic nature reserve established in Jiangsu Province and the largest nature reserve with the richest biodiversity in Zhenjiang City. According to the latest investigation results, there are about 25 finless porpoises in the nature reserve, and there are more than 440 species of wild animals and plants, including more than 20 species of national key protected wild animals.

Founded in 2017, the National Summer Camp for the Protection of the finless porpoise for college students originated from the important habitat of the Yangtze finless porpoise and the beautiful coast of the Yangtze River — — Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. Since its establishment, the summer camp has attracted the attention and participation of thousands of college students’ finless porpoise protection volunteers and enthusiasts in colleges and universities all over the country because of its strong professionalism, high social participation, novel and unique activities, and great influence, which has had an important impact on promoting the Yangtze finless porpoise protection, the Yangtze River ecological protection and the improvement of college students’ comprehensive quality and self-cultivation.

It is reported that after the activities of Zhenjiang Station of the summer camp, campers will also go to Tongling, Anhui Province and Wuhan, Hubei Province to further observe the Yangtze finless porpoise, and visit the Museum of Aquatic Biology of China Academy of Sciences to continue the study and research activities on the protection of the Yangtze finless porpoise. (Fang Junxi, Fang Lianglong) Image provided by the interviewee.