For marine biologist Zeng Qianhui, protecting China's endangered white dolphins isn't just a job – it's a childhood dream come full circle 🌟. Growing up on Xiamen's Gulangyu Island, she first learned about these rare creatures through a local statue. Today, she navigates the same waters trying to save them from modern challenges.
With fewer than 100 dolphins swimming alongside 5 million humans, Xiamen presents a unique survival puzzle 🧩. \"Are you really happy?\" Zeng asks the dolphins she tracks daily. Ferries crisscrossing the bay, construction noise, plastic waste, and fishing nets create a gauntlet of dangers for the first-class protected species.
Recent boat surveys reveal how elusive the dolphins have become – two days of searching yielded no sightings 🌊. But hope floats: Xiamen established a nature reserve and tightened fishing regulations. Scientists like Zeng now use advanced monitoring to study dolphin habitats and stress levels 🔬.
\"I hope there's still paradise for them,\" says Zeng, whose work combines cutting-edge science with heartfelt determination. While the dolphins' future remains uncertain, every protected habitat zone and reduced plastic bag brings Xiamen closer to balancing urban growth with marine conservation ⚖️.
