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Baiji River Dolphin May or May Not Be Extinct

Posted by Zonk on from the they-don't-want-to-go-on-the-cart dept.

ozmanjusri writes "Major news outlets are reporting that after 20 million years, Baiji (Yangtze River Dolphin) are now officially extinct. This is apparently actually old news; it was announced on a Baiji conservation website in December of last year. One outlet, though, is claiming they may not quite be completely dead yet. The same scientist that filed the report leading the the declaration of extinction is still hopeful: '"This is only one survey and...you can't have a sample in a survey, so you cannot say the baiji all is gone by the result of only one survey," he said. "For example, there is some side channels or some tributaries [where] we cannot go because of a restriction of navigation rules, and also we don't survey during the night-time so we may miss some animals in the Yangtze River." Professor Ding says based on anecdotal evidence, he remains confident the dolphins are still out there. "I'm pretty much sure there are a few of them left somewhere in the Yangtze River," he said. "I keep receiving reports from fishermen, they say they saw a couple of baiji somewhere, sometime."'"

10 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. A tautology! by Hikaru79 · · Score: 2, Funny

    After the commercials, "Human Beings May or May Not Be Extinct"!

  2. Re:You Idiots by j00r0m4nc3r · · Score: 3, Funny

    You couldn't fool your mother on the foolingest day of your life with an electrified fooling machine!

  3. They're dead. by akkarin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or maybe not. But probably. Not. On the other hand... of course, if you.. no, no, they're dead. I think. -The Thinker

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    This sig left intentionally blank.
  4. I thought it was a cat? by HermDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, who's going to open the box and find out if the dolphins are dead or if they're cats?

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    JADBP
  5. May or May not? by sykopomp · · Score: 5, Funny

    Schroedinger would be proud and Einstein would piss his pants!!!... I daresay

  6. Re:They're not dead by taoman1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, they're pining for the fjords.

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    Where is the Undo button for my life? Not to mention the Esc key.
  7. Re:I need advice by ResidntGeek · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or maybe you spelled "Niel" wrong.

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    ResidntGeek
  8. Thanks for telling me by MarsDefenseMinister · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guess I'd better save the one I have in my freezer for a really special dinner, because I won't have to get another one. And the dolphin they're putting in those little cans is often adulterated with tuna, which spoils it in my opinion.

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    No weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men.-Ronald Reagan
  9. Re:i read somewhere by edwardpickman · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're forgetting the most important point, how did they taste in sushi? Several million Japanese are dying to find out. See, there are good reasons for cloning.

  10. "Mostly Extinct" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Is that anything like "kind of pregnant"?