In a heartwarming twist for wildlife lovers, over 20 Yangtze finless porpoises – dubbed \"smiling angels\" for their permanent grins – were spotted frolicking in Hunan Province's Xiangyin County this week. 🎉 Local photographer Yi Hui captured the rare moment, describing their playful flips as \"a cheerful hello from nature.\"
These critically endangered porpoises, found only in China's Yangtze River, have battled extinction for decades due to overfishing and habitat loss. Their population plummeted from 2,500 in 1991 to just 1,012 by 2017. 💔
But here's the glow-up we love to see: Recent conservation efforts, including fishing bans and ecosystem restoration, helped their numbers rebound to 1,249 in 2022 – a 23.4% jump! 📈 Experts call this a\xa0win for sustainable policies and community-driven environmental action.
\"This sighting is like nature sending us a thank-you note,\" said one ecologist. With continued efforts, these aquatic ambassadors might just keep smiling for generations. 🌍💚
