A "plogging" activity marking the closure of the 2022 Protecting Chinese White Dolphins On-cloud Running Campaign kicked off on June 8, gathering 300 runners at its main venue by Lyuyang Bay in Tangjiawan and five sub-venues around Zhuhai, including Xianglu Bay and Qi'ao Island. 

Plogging refers to the act of picking up litter while jogging. It is derived from the Swedish term "plocka upp", which means to pick up and jogging. The activity also marked the 14th World Oceans Day and the 15th National Oceans Promotion Day, as well as promoting marine ecosystem protection and achieving harmonious co-existence between humans and nature.

Participants of the plogging activity pose for a group photo [Photo by Guo Xiuyu / Zhuhai Daily]

The 2022 Protecting Chinese White Dolphins On-cloud Running Campaign, initiated by Huafa Foundation and Huafa Sports on May 28 under the guidance of Zhuhai Civil Affairs Bureau, has attracted more than 100,000 participants. Of note, all earnings from the campaign will be used in public welfare actions involving Chinese white dolphin protection.

An official from the Huafa Foundation noted that the population of national first-class protected mammals is continuously decreasing due to the impacts of marine development, overfishing, environmental pollution, and frequent shipping. The Zhuhai-based foundation has been devoting efforts to protecting the city's ecological environment and raising public awareness of Chinese white dolphin protection.

The Pearl River Estuary (PRE) is home to the largest population and heaviest concentrations of Chinese white dolphins. A 460-sq-km (178-sq-mile) PRE Chinese White Dolphin National Nature Reserve was established between Shenzhen's Neilingding and Zhuhai's Niutou islands in 2003 with an administration base on Qi'ao Island in Tangjiawan. Pods of the "Giant Pandas of the Sea" have been spotted from time to time in Zhuhai waters.