In 2016, the ministry published The Plan for Saving the Finless Porpoise (2016-25), which focuses on both on-and off-site protection efforts and genetic conservation, and stresses the importance of the assistance of social organizations, such as charities.

In June, the National Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Association launched the Save the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Alliance in Wuhan, which includes more than 60 member organizations nationwide.

"The founding of the alliance was a milestone in the engagement of social organizations in the conservation of this precious species," said the alliance's chairman Li Yanliang, who is also head of the Yangtze Fishery Administration Office.

The alliance encourages ex-fishermen to become "porpoise guardians" and help fishery administrators crack down on illegal fishing and sand excavation.

"Protection work isn't limited to the government or charities; it's everyone's mission," said Zhang, of the SEE Foundation.

Resources

Last year, the foundation's centers in Hunan and Anhui launched a project called Save the Smiling Angel of the Yangtze River, which is operated by the Changjiang Conservation Foundation in Hubei.

"Porpoise conservation is not easy work," Zhang said.

"As our foundation is an association of businesspeople, we have a large number of social resources and are more capable of channeling our resources into conservation work."

The foundation's annual fundraising day on Sept 9 netted 13 million yuan ($2 million), far outstripping the 3 million yuan it raised last year.

Meanwhile, in June, four pioneer protection sites were established at Poyang Lake and Yueyang in Hunan, plus Anqing and Hewangmiao.