Yangtze finless porpoises are spotted in Nantong. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

April 8 marks International Rare Animal Protection Day. With rich natural resources, Nantong serves as an essential habitat, breeding ground, and stopover site for wildlife. So, how many national protected animals does Nantong have?

According to the data released in 2024, among the 294 bird species recorded in Nantong are 14 under first-class national protection, including spoon-billed sandpiper, black-headed gull, and Chinese crested tern.

In Xiaoyangkou, spoon-billed sandpipers appear during the autumn migration. At Jiangong Lake, mandarin ducks show up. Nantong is home to wild deer frolicking on tidal wetlands and the familiar Yangtze finless porpoise.

As an endangered species and a first-class national protected animal, the Yangtze finless porpoise has recently become a "regular visitor" in Nantong. In March, when spring arrives, encountering the wildlife in Binjiang Park has become a great joy for the city's citizens. Behind this lies an inter-regional protection network that connects government departments with volunteers.

Guan Haoyu, head of the Nantong Yangtze Finless Porpoise Patrol Volunteers Alliance, said, "We spontaneously allied in 2021, mainly for porpoise observation, protection, and publicity." The alliance includes porpoise enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, and personnel working along the Yangtze River shoreline, and its members have now expanded to those from Suzhou and Shanghai.

Having photographed wildlife for many years, Guan deeply feels that observing birds is like observing the natural environment of human life, and protecting animals ultimately protects humans.