APPRAISAL OF THE INFIUENCE-UPON BAIJI, LiPOTES VEXILLIFER BY THE THREE-GORGE PRoJECT AND CONSERVATION STRATEGY

The Three-gorge Project is the focus of world attention. Which kind of influence upon the rare animal-baiji,Lipotes vexillifer in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River will be exerted by the project? What kind of conservation strategy and action plan will be taken? All of these are always concerned by people. The questions are anwsered in this paper and the situation of baiji's population are re-estimated as well. The population size of baiji is only about 200 left with still going down. Upper range of distribution of the dolphin is Zhicheng Hubei, and lower of that is Liuhekou, Jiangsu. Type of the distribution is disconnect. The influences of the project are indirect. The upper range of distribution will be moved down 155 km to Shishou, Hubei. About 5% of the population have to move. The threat of baiji killed by propellers will obviously be increased because of the improvment of shipping condition and growth of ships after the project being finished in the middle Changjiang. Moreover, it will also effect baiji indirectly that the fish source goes down. The conservation strategy to build the Tian-e-zhou semi-natural reserve which is feasible and effective is recommanded.