‘Eco-tourism’ kills endangered Chinese sturgeon

Science & Health

The Chinese sturgeon can grow up to 13 feet (four meters) long. The species is critically endangered, and almost extinct in its native Yangtze River.

Since the start of this year, 36 mature Chinese sturgeons (aged over 20 years) and about 6,000 babies (aged up to two years) have died at the Hengsheng aquafarm in Jingzhou, Hubei Province.

“A panel appointed by the provincial fisheries bureau said the deaths were ‘directly linked to the shocks, noises and changes of water sources’ caused by the construction of the Jinan Eco-cultural Tourism Zone,” reports the South China Morning Post.

The Chinese sturgeon can grow up to 13 feet (four meters) long. The species is critically endangered, and almost extinct in its native Yangtze River.

Another piece of wild China in danger is the subject of this New York Times report: A rural patch of Hong Kong where rare birds sing and developers circle (porous paywall).


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