The Yangtze River dolphin is officially no more

This is terrible!

I first heard of the Yangtze River dolphin in Douglas Adams' appropriately named Last Chance to See. That book inspired me to donate to the World Wildlife Fund. (Unfortunately, I can't afford to donate to the more specific charities.)

Adams, from Last Chance to See:

As I watched the wind ruffling over the bilious surface of the Yangtze, I realised with the vividness of shock that somewhere beneath or around me there were intelligent animals whose perceptive universe we could scarcely begin to imagine, living in a seething, poisoned, deafening world, and that their lives were probably passed in continual bewilderment, hunger, pain, and fear.

I sure hope we're able to nurture in our great-grandchildren a healthy appreciation of vermin species; at this rate that's all they'll have left.

Why am I not surprised that this took place in China... :-\

A longer extract from Adams' great book is here.