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Chinese River Dolphin likely extinct

Dustin Kesselberg

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The Xinhua News Agency announced on 4 December 2006 that no Chinese River Dolphins were detected in a six-week survey of the Yangtze River conducted by 30 researchers. In 1990 this species had less than 200 left when surveys were done and after the Three Gorges Dam was built it basically killed off the rest of the remaning individuals. Many scientists believe this species is now basically "functionally extinct" where if there are any surviving individuals their numbers are too low to sustian a viable population.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_River_Dolphin
 
Sad.

It's one of those few things that I can't rationalize away with any evidence or reason. I just find it emotionally sad when this sort of thing happens. Sure, ecosystems are always weakened by a loss of biodiversity etc., and I can justify the depression of the loss through stating that, but when it comes down to it I just feel sad when such things go extinct.

Athon
 
Just one more species to add to the 99% that have gone before.

The Three Gorges Dam is changing the ecosystem of a wide area, but it is not exactly leaving a barren waste behind. Change in ecosystems is inevitable, the existing life must adapt or die.
 
Tief said:
Just one more species to add to the 99% that have gone before.

The Three Gorges Dam is changing the ecosystem of a wide area, but it is not exactly leaving a barren waste behind. Change in ecosystems is inevitable, the existing life must adapt or die.
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Life can't adapt that quickly. Especially larger mammals like dolphins. It's not their responsibility to adapt. It's OUR responsibility not to do anything that might kill them off.
 
It's OUR responsibility not to do anything that might kill them off.
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Is it though? I mean, life will get on doing what it's doing whether or not we reduce biodiversity or something else does.
 
Dustin said:
Do you really not know the reasons we should prevent species from going extinct?
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Since 99% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct I don't think I do.

If we do cause a mass extinction and screw everything up then it's pretty likely life we eventually reassert itself as it has done in the past.

Unless it's just about being sentimental about the species that are currently here I can't see what the real reason is - guilt about being heavily involved in it at the most it would seem.
 
cyborg said:
Since 99% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct I don't think I do.

If we do cause a mass extinction and screw everything up then it's pretty likely life we eventually reassert itself as it has done in the past.

Unless it's just about being sentimental about the species that are currently here I can't see what the real reason is - guilt about being heavily involved in it at the most it would seem.
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It looks like you do need it explained to you...:rolleyes:

Link
 
cyborg said:
If we do cause a mass extinction and screw everything up then it's pretty likely life we eventually reassert itself as it has done in the past.

Unless it's just about being sentimental about the species that are currently here I can't see what the real reason is - guilt about being heavily involved in it at the most it would seem.
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I for one have a huge sentimental attachment to the species homo sapiens--sort of a love/hate thing.
 
I take this seriously, with no joke about how they became sushi (or the Chinese equivalent). Paleohistorically there have been at least 6 major extinctions. And some "minor" ones. What happened to the large land animals when humans hiked to the americas? Extinct or nearly so.
The oysters and lobsters that used to be teeming in my nearby waters are gone.
Fishermen and women around here are reporting a dearth of fish.
Solent green will only work for a while.
 
Dammit! I leant a Chinese River Dolphin fifty bucks back in 1992. I guess I can kiss that goodbye. :mad:
 
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