Baiji

The Baiji, also known as the Yangtze River dolphin, was a freshwater dolphin species endemic to the Yangtze River in China. Recognized for its slender body and small eyes adapted to murky waters, it was critically endangered due to industrialization, dam construction, pollution, and fishing activities. Despite conservation efforts, the Baiji population declined sharply, and it was declared functionally extinct around 2006, with no confirmed sightings since. Its disappearance highlights the devastating impact of human activities on freshwater ecosystems and underscores the importance of conservation initiatives to protect vulnerable species.