Dedicated family provides safety net for protected dolphins

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world. Researchers led by Pan Wenshi look for Chinese white dolphins in Sanniang Bay off the coast of Qinzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. CHINA DAILY Protecting Chinese white dolphins has always been a family affair for Pan Yue. For almost two decades, Pan, her husband, and her father have taken nearly 5 million photographs documenting and studying the population of rare Chinese white dolphins in Sanniang Bay, Qinzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Named for their overall white or light pink coloration in adulthood, Chinese white dolphins have an estimated population of no more than 5,000 individuals in the wild, distributed in the nearshore waters of Fujian and Guangdong provinces and Guangxi in South China.