The enhanced environment in the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River has brought more and more pleasant findings for enthusiasts of the Yangtze finless porpoise, which is critically endangered and adored in China as a "smiling angel". 

Recently, three Yangtze finless porpoises- a mother and her two calves- were seen swimming together in the river in Gulou District. The mother is about 1.7 meters in length, while the smallest calf is slender, less than one-third her size, and also especially lively. 

Wei Changjian, a volunteer of the Nanjing Finless Porpoise and Aquatic Life Conservation Association, took photos of the family group on 12 November, saying he has been observing their movement for more than one month. Wei also said one calf was born in 2022, about two years old now, and the other was born in June this year. 

The finless porpoise's typical pregnancy lasts 11 months, resulting in a single birth and providing milk for six months. The calves generally stay with their mother for two to three years or even longer. 

“Normally, a finless porpoise can have two calves within three years, so theoretically, a mother with two calves is possible, provided ideal breeding conditions and a favorable environment,” said Professor Yang Guang from the School of Life Sciences at Nanjing Normal University. Yang also said that factors such as environmental quality, availability of mates, and human disturbances can affect pregnancy success and calf survival. 

Zhang Jun, head of the Nanjing Yangtze Finless Porpoise Nature Reserve Management Station, noted that survey teams observed finless porpoises 336 times from autumn 2023 to summer 2024, yielding a population estimate of around 65 individuals—a 4.8% increase over the 62 recorded in 2022. The teams also observed mother-calf pairs on nine occasions, indicating positive growth prospects for the species within the reserve. 

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