The Chinese white dolphin from the Pearl River estuary is recognized as a unique natural heritage shared by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature. It is listed as "Vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species and is classified as a "Grade 1 National Key Protected Species" in China.

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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the HKSAR government lists several potential threats to the dolphins in Hong Kong waters, including habitat loss and disturbance, pollution, incidental entanglement in fishing gear, vessel collisions, and depletion of food resources.

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China Daily's photographer Parker Zheng took the photos.