Lipotes vexillifer (baiji)

Lipotes vexillifer, commonly known as the baiji or Yangtze River dolphin, was a freshwater dolphin native to China's Yangtze River. Recognized for its slender body, long nose, and limited sight, it was highly adapted to river life. Despite efforts to protect it, the baiji faced severe threats from habitat loss, pollution, overfishing, and ship traffic, leading to its classification as functionally extinct by the early 2000s. The species serves as a stark reminder of the ecological impact human activities can have on freshwater ecosystems.