Baiji River Dolphin Trivia Questions

Bycatch was the primary cause per the IUCN, though habitat degradation, boat collisions, and dam construction also played roles.

True—baiji had severely reduced vision due to the Yangtze’s murky waters, using sophisticated sonar clicks to navigate and find prey.

Declared functionally extinct in 2006, the baiji vanished due to overfishing, ship traffic, and habitat loss from the Yangtze River’s industrialization.

The last confirmed sighting was in 2004, not 2002, when a dead baiji washed ashore. A 2006 expedition failed to find any.

A comprehensive six-week international search of the Yangtze River in 2006 failed to spot any baiji, leading to the dolphin being declared functionally extinct.

Baiji had a lifespan of about 24–35 years, not 50. The oldest recorded individual was around 30. This corrects a common misconception about their longevity.

No cloning attempt succeeded. The baiji's extinction was final; cloning wasn't viable due to lack of viable cells or a surrogate mother.

False. Baiji belonged to the freshwater dolphin family Lipotidae and are most closely related to Amazon river dolphins, not saltwater dolphins (Delphinidae).