CCTV9英语新闻：Finless porpoise goes back to sea

A story where we gladly bid farewell to a 'smiling angel', a finless porpoise who looks as if he's always smiling.  

 

Xiao Hua, or Little Scar, is healthy, nimble, and with hardly a scar detectable now. But six months ago, he was a real scar face. The five-year old finless porpoise was severely wounded by fishing nets. When fishermen found and sent him to a Tianjin ocean park for treatment, he was bleeding and hardly breathing. 

 

"He was in critical condition. We immediately dressed his wounds, disinfected him, injected anti-biotics and treated him for anemia," said Luo Qing from Tianjin Polar Ocean World.

 

Xiao Hua was saved. And it's not the first to go through such emergency treatment. The ocean park has cured 6 other finless porpoises since 2012.

 

"Commercial fishing, chemical pollution in the ocean, as well as other reasons have led to the deterioration of their natural habitat. The finless porpoises are having a hard time now," said Luo.

 

To improve the environment for these protected species, the government has launched a protection campaign in coastal areas.

 

"We are building a protective network for finless porpoises, as well as other protected species. We've set up rescue centers. We are also working closely with relevant government departments and ocean parks. Through these outlets, people will learn how to protect these endangered species," said Guo Rui from Bureau of Fishery Administration. 

 

After months in the ocean park, Xiao Hua has grown longer, heavier, and much stronger. By last Friday, he was finally in a condition to go home. Xiao Hua's feeders accompanied him to the freeing spot, an hour's ship ride away from Tianjin. He lingered for around for 10 minutes, but finally went out to sea.