R.I.P. "the Goddess of the Yangtze"

I spotted this solemn piece of news over at Eco-Chick.com. It would be nice if this was just a mistake - something a recount would rectify - but it's not looking good. The Baiji Yangtze Dolphin, that lived in the Yangtze River of central China for millennia, "is with all probability extinct."

The Baiji is the first large mammal brought to extinction as a result of human destruction to their natural habitat and resources. - Baiji.org

Every creature has an equal right to existence, but, for me at least, dolphins evoke those warm fuzzy feelings that few others can. What is it that makes them so special? They're beautiful, yes, but still somewhat... um... 'fish-like' - not quite in the same league as a number of other less loved but arguably more beautiful animals. But when it comes to personality, there's just no comparison.

I mean how can you not feel a bond with an animal that, at some level, really seems to love us - and undeservedly so. There are many tales told of dolphins inexplicably saving human lives - even risking their own to do so. I mean, why?!? We're the guys that keep killing them, aren't we?

Sadly, this friend may have, as nature often does, become just another road-kill on our industrial highway.