she will not come back, she will not come back
though the stars hang their tears in the trees
And tireless Orion lies spent in his tracks
she will not come back
she will not come back to me
~Dave Carter

In 2006 the Baiji, or Yangtze River Dolphin, was declared functionally extinct. This means that if there are baiji still alive, the population is too small to sustain a healthy genetic pool for continued survival. There is still a chance these fine creatures will pull through but the odds are slim.

In Chinese mythology the baiji is the reincarnation of a princess who was drowned for not marrying a man she did not love. The River took pity on the poor girl and brought her back as the Goddess of the River. The baiji is a symbol of peace and prosperity.

It's too late for baiji. Hundreds of people tried to save them, bless them, but they couldn't. Efforts are now in motion to save the other endangered cetacean in the Yangtze River, the finless porpoise.

I pledge all print proceeds will go to the Baiji Foundation which works to conserve the fauna and flora of the Chinese waterways.

Painted for the Endangered Ark project.
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