Photo: Last River Porpoises Dying in Polluted Yangtze

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


A newborn Yangtze finless porpoise swims alongside its mother at the Institute of Hydrobiology's "dolphinarium" on June 3, 2007.

The critically endangered porpoise—down to fewer than 1,800 animals in China's Yangtze River—are dying from exposure to insecticides and mercury coming from local industries, a new study says.

Photograph by China Photos/Getty Images

MOST VIEWED NEWS

PICTURES: 2012 Doomsday Myths Debunked

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.