The ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River has yielded highly positive ecological impacts. However, the extinction of the Baiji (Yangtze river dolphin; Lipotes vexillifer) has left a critical void in the food chain at the apex predator level.

Currently, international de-extinction projects are rapidly progressing. They have become the “moonshot” programs of the biotechnology sector, driving significant advancements in both technology and specialized talent. China must also actively engage in these pioneering efforts.

The successful de-extinction of the Baiji would provide a much healthier and fully functioning ecosystem for the Yangtze River following the fishing ban. To achieve this, we are calling for the establishment of a Baiji De-extinction Consortium. This collaborative initiative will unite leading experts from various disciplines, including ecology, zoology, genetics, genomics, and gene editing, to work together toward accomplishing this historic goal.

If you are interested in this vision, please email us via kaiyue.jason.ma+baiji@gmail.com. Together, we can discuss the operational framework of the consortium and our path to achieving this historic goal.

Kaiyue Ma
5-15-2026