Accelerating population decline of Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)

► Comparative life tables were constructed before and after 1993. ► The instantaneous rate of increase (r¯) revealed an accelerating population decline. ► Status of N. p. asiaeorientalis meets Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. ► The probability of extinction (PE) is 86.06% within the next 100 years. ► Effective conservation measures must be enacted immediately.