Data from: Rebuilding the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise population: Successful release from an ex situ conservation programme

Ex situ conservation and population reinforcements or reintroductions are
vital strategies for protecting endangered species, yet efforts for
cetaceans have been notably limited. Through post-release monitoring based
on wearable radio tag and passive acoustic methods, we report the first
successful release of a critically endangered small-toothed whale, the
Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis),
into the wild. Our monitoring results indicate that, by the third day
after release, the two porpoises from the ex-situ population had joined a
local individual and gradually integrated into the core distribution area
of the local population. Continuous monitoring by the Yangtze Cetacean
Protection Network revealed no recorded deaths among the released
porpoises. This successful release demonstrates the potential of this
approach as a supplementary measure for the restoration of the Yangtze
finless porpoise wild population.