Hello "F9C22", warm welcome!

Sometimes diving to the bottom of the water, sometimes poking its head out of the water, and sometimes swimming in the water... In the Baiji Pavilion of the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Yangtze River porpoise baby "F9C22" is playing with its mother "Fuku". The mother and daughter are inseparable and have a lot of fun.

On the 6th, the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, released for the first time through Xinhua News Agency the full surveillance video of the "hero mother" - "Fukujiu" giving birth to a new baby. The birth of this baby porpoise is a new achievement in the artificial breeding of Yangtze porpoises.

(On June 29, the mother finless porpoise "Fukujiu" and the baby finless porpoise "F9C22" were swimming in the water. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu)

The Yangtze River porpoise is a national first-class protected wild animal. The results of the 2017 Yangtze River porpoise ecological scientific survey showed that the Yangtze River porpoise population was only about 1,012. Over the years, the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has cooperated with many domestic Yangtze River porpoise research and protection institutions to continuously explore the artificial breeding of Yangtze River porpoises.

At present, in addition to the newly born "F9C22", there are 6 Yangtze finless porpoises in captivity, 3 of which were born in artificial environments, including the first second-generation Yangtze finless porpoise "YYC" born in 2020, which provides important conditions for understanding the basic biology and reproductive physiology of Yangtze finless porpoises.

(On June 29, the mother finless porpoise "Fukujiu" and the baby finless porpoise "F9C22" were swimming in the water. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu)

It is reported that May to August every year is the peak breeding season for Yangtze finless porpoises at the Baiji Museum. In August last year, researchers from the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted a physical examination on the female Yangtze finless porpoise "Fujiu" through B-ultrasound and confirmed that she had been pregnant for more than a month. The gestation period of Yangtze finless porpoises is about 12 months, so it is estimated that her due date may be around mid-to-late June this year.

Hao Yujiang, an associate researcher at the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that since pregnancy, "Fujiu"'s food intake has steadily increased, with a maximum daily intake of 3-4 kilograms. In order to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant pigs during pregnancy, researchers have added fresh bait fish to "Fujiu" and supplemented it with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

(On June 29, the mother finless porpoise "Fukujiu" and the baby finless porpoise "F9C22" were swimming in the water. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu)

At 16:00 on June 27, "Fujiu" showed obvious loss of appetite, shorter breathing intervals, floating and other behaviors. At the same time, the trainer found that colored liquid was overflowing from its genital fissure area. The researchers immediately started 24-hour monitoring and made corresponding plans. At about 19:35 that day, the tail fin of the calf was delivered. After about 2 hours of delivery, the calf was successfully delivered at about 21:35 that night and was numbered "F9C22".

Hao Yujiang said that after "F9C22" was born, "Fujiu" showed strong maternal instincts and actively followed and cared for "F9C22", guiding "F9C22" to dive deep and swim with it. Under the guidance of "Fujiu", the mother-daughter relationship was gradually established, and "F9C22" had its first mouthful of breast milk at around 4:30 the next day. After more than a week of observation, mother "Fujiu" and her newborn baby "F9C22" are currently in good health.

(On June 29, the mother finless porpoise "Fukujiu" and the baby finless porpoise "F9C22" were swimming in the water. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu)

It is reported that "Fujiu" was moved from Poyang Lake to the Baiji Pavilion of the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2011. He is now 14 years old and in his prime. On the third day after the birth of the baby finless porpoise, researchers confirmed that "F9C22" born by "Fujiu" is a female finless porpoise, which brings new hope to the artificial breeding group of Yangtze finless porpoises in the Baiji Pavilion.

(On June 29, the mother finless porpoise "Fukujiu" and the baby finless porpoise "F9C22" were swimming in the water. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu)

"The theoretical knowledge and basic technologies accumulated through artificial breeding of finless porpoises are crucial to supporting the in situ and ex situ conservation of Yangtze finless porpoises." Wang Kexiong, head of the cetacean discipline group of the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the institute has always insisted on research and protection of the baiji and Yangtze finless porpoises, and is currently my country's research team with the longest time engaged in cetacean conservation biology research, the most comprehensive disciplines, and the most active international cooperation.

Source: Xinhua News Agency