In the near future, the waters surrounding Zhairuoshan Island in Dinghai district, Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, will come alive with the sight of porpoises joyfully leaping out of the sea, while underwater sonar quietly records their visits and transmits the data to a monitoring platform.
This scene is part of Dinghai's ambitious project to establish four major biodiversity conservation bases near Zhairuoshan and Jintang islands.
According to the action plan, authorities will enhance the finless porpoise observation station, which was established in 2020, by installing underwater sonar to improve the identification and recording of porpoises.
"By deploying sonar monitoring equipment in these waters, we can achieve more precise monitoring of porpoise activities," explained a representative from the Dinghai branch of the Zhoushan bureau of ecology and the environment. This, combined with video observation, will provide a better understanding of the porpoises' activity patterns.
In addition, the vacant houses on Zhairuoshan Island will be repurposed into educational experience centers for the Yangtze finless porpoise and the small Indian civet. These centers will feature panoramic live broadcasts, dynamically showcasing the activities and habits of these rare species and aiming to inspire public enthusiasm for their protection.
Jintang Island, home to the largest and only stable otter population in the province, will see the establishment of an otter canteen and an otter community conservation area. These initiatives will facilitate continuous monitoring and research of the otter population.
Furthermore, around the main distribution areas of the Yiwu Chinese giant salamander, authorities will establish three conservation zones for this endangered species. These zones will be equipped with ecological isolation facilities and signage and will undertake habitat protection and restoration efforts.
These conservation bases will also play a significant role in promoting the in-depth integration of biodiversity conservation with eco-tourism and nature education, according to Zheng Jie, deputy director of the Dinghai branch of the Zhoushan bureau of ecology and the environment.
