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Which endangered animals may be affected by changes to the Yangtze River caused by the Three Gorges Dam?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Locator map highlighting the course of the Yangtze River across China, with surrounding countries in East and Central Asia labeled, including India, Russia, Mongolia, Japan, and the Koreas. The Yangtze River is marked in blue and labeled in orange, showing its path from western to eastern China. An inset globe in the upper left shows the region's location within Asia.
Yangtze River

The construction of the Three Gorges Dam has raised significant environmental concerns regarding its impact on the Yangtze River basin. Critics have noted that alterations to the river's natural regime may adversely affect several endangered animal species that inhabit the region.1

Specifically, the species identified as being at risk due to these environmental changes include:

These concerns are part of a broader discussion regarding the ecological consequences of the project, which also include issues such as sediment buildup, increased risk of landslides, and the loss of habitats due to the inundation of areas by the reservoir. Protecting biodiversity and ensuring the health of these river ecosystems is an essential ethical responsibility when managing large-scale infrastructure projects.1