After 26 days of travel and 1750 kilometers, the expedition vessels have arrived in Shanghai December 2. Up to this point, the researchers have seen no baiji and less than 300 Yangtze finless porpoises. The expedition crew is discouraged, but there is still a chance too see some baiji on the way back to Wuhan.

«There were several days of poor weather conditions, which made surveying almost impossible», says Wang Ding,  director of Baiji reserach group of the Institue of Hydrobiology Wuhan. «We will double our efforts and keep our eyes peeled for baiji on the way back.» Meanwhile, there is more hope fort he Yangtze finless porpoise, as the expedition crew found almost 300 animals.

«However», as August Pfluger, ceo of baiji.org Foundation says, «we must increase in future our efforts on Yangtze finless propoise conservation, as else they will become the second baiji.» After seeing the Yangtze habitat, the researchers came to the conclusion, if there were any baiji in the river, relocation to the Tian-e-Zhou seminaturale reserve will be the only option. Before heading back out on the river, the 35 expedition members are relaxing for two days in Shanghai.

Good news are coming from the habitat survey team from Eawag aquatic research Switzerland and the Institue of Hydrobiology Wuhan. There were sample sets taken on 29 different locations along the river so far. The samples will be examined for 40 different pollutants by various SGS labs in China. The expedition will be finished around December 15.