Researchers are using medieval Chinese poetry to trace the historical habitats of the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise, which has seen a 65% habitat loss. By analyzing over 700 poems spanning 1,400 years, theyâve established a detailed record of the porpoise's range. Zhigang Mei notes how this interdisciplinary approach combines cultural history with biodiversity conservation, bridging the gap between long-term ecological studies and contemporary wildlife surveys. The Yangtze Riverâs rich literary history provides invaluable ecological insights into the life of this unique freshwater mammal.
"We're connecting 2,000 years of Chinese culture with biodiversity," says Zhigang Mei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Mei grew up along the Yangtze River and remembers elders revering the porpoises as spiritual beings that could predict the weather and fish levels.
"Our work fills the gap between the super long-term information we get from fossils and DNA and the recent population surveys. It really shows how powerful it can be to combine art and biodiversity conservation."
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