Poetry from the Chinese Empire dynasty reveals the reality of the endangered long andless wingless Porpoise habitat loss, according to new research published in current biology last Monday. Scientists analyzed 724 ancient poems, referring to the iconic “smiling” dolphin, recording a 65% range contraction over the past 1,400 years – most of the decline occurred within the last century.
This study represents an innovative fusion of cultural heritage and modern conservation sciences, providing a rare historical perspective on changes in wildlife populations that have changed for more than a thousand years.
“We are connecting Chinese culture with biodiversity,” said Zhigang Mei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who led the study.
“Our work fills the gap between the ultra-long-term information we get from fossils and DNA and the recent demographic surveys. It does show the power of combining art and biodiversity conservation.”
Mei, who grew up along the Yangtze River, recalls that community elders described dolphins as spiritually-like creatures that could predict weather patterns and fish rich. This cultural connection prompts unconventional methods to track the historical scope of subspecies.
Poetry as scientific evidence
When using ancient poetry as ecological data, the research team faces significant methodological challenges. China’s huge literary tradition includes countless poems with varying degrees of realism and artistic license. Researchers must carefully verify each reference by studying the poet’s biographies, travel records and writing styles.
Most of the references come from the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), which contributed 477 poems, mentioning peacocks. The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) added another 177, while the earlier periods provided fewer but still valuable historical records.
Emperor Qianlong was particularly important, one of China’s most prolific poets with over 35,000 works. During his trip to Giange, he described the unique dolphins described as “chasing the moonlight on the tide.”
The Yangtze River finless dolphins are particularly suitable for this historical analysis. As the only known freshwater sign in the world, it is relatively large compared to other fauna and often breathes on the surface, which is a striking and memorable sight for Asia’s longest waterway.
“The Yangtze River finless dolphins are large compared to fish, and they are very active on the water, especially before thunderstorms when they are really chasing the fish and jumping around,” Mei explained. “This amazing sight is hard to ignore by the poet.”
Range shrinkage accelerates
By drawing the geographical location mentioned in the poem, researchers recorded the historical distribution of dolphins in the Yangtze River system. The results show that although the species lost about one-third of its range along major rivers since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), its presence in tributaries and connected lakes has decreased by 91%.
The biggest decline between the Qing Dynasty and the modern era occurred between industrialization and water management projects. Data show that during the Tang Dynasty, dolphins once lived in 169 grid areas, but are now found in only 59, with a 65% reduction in their historical range.
This pattern is consistent with what scientists have observed in other Megafauna species. The study pointed out that of the 204 nonvolatile terrestrial mammals, 40 species have shrunk by more than 50% in a century. In Yangtze, in recent decades, two endemic species have been declared – Baiji dolphins and Chinese pad fish.
Dam and development
Research shows that hydraulic engineering is the main driving force for the fading of holes. The construction of the dam, especially since the 1950s, has destroyed the Yangtze River ecosystem and prevented movement between the main river channel and its connected waterways.
Completed in 1988, the Gezhouba Dam is the first major dam on the main channel of the Yangtze River and seems to mark a critical turning point. Historical records show that before 1988, dolphins appeared upstream of the dam, but then they disappeared from these areas.
Similar patterns of local extinction in tributaries and lakes are associated with a sharp increase in dam construction during China’s industrial expansion, effectively isolating dolphin populations and preventing natural movements throughout the river system.
Cultural connection with conservation
For researchers, this study not only represents scientific literature, but also emphasizes the strong intersection of cultural heritage and environmental protection.
“Protecting nature is not only the responsibility of modern science; it is also closely linked to our culture and history,” May said. “Like poetry, art can really inspire emotional connections and make people realize the harmony and respect that we should have between us and nature.”
The team plans to continue mining the poems it collects to gain other ecological insights, including historic population size, behavioral patterns and river ecosystem status. They hope that their unconventional approach can inspire similar approaches using other art forms such as novels and paintings.
“This work has allowed me to rethink the scientific value of historical documents and show us the ability to think interdisciplinary,” Mei reflects. “Chinese poetry, this ancient art form, can become a serious scientific tool. Using the past to understand the present, ‘decode’ the story behind art: not only research, but like talking to poets of the past.”
This study reminds people that conservation efforts must not only consider modern scientific data, but also the rich historical relationship between humans and wildlife – a relationship that is often preserved in unexpected places, such as the graceful verses of ancient travelers, witnessing the smile of dolphins on the powerful Yanggez waters.
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