Wild Chinese sturgeon discovered in Yangtze River

A baby Chinese sturgeon was spotted in the Yangtze River on April 10, marking the first discovery of the endangered animal in the wild in two years.

Chinese sturgeons are strictly protected by the Chinese government, sharing the status of “national treasure” with the nation's beloved giant pandas. However, the population of Chinese sturgeons has dropped significantly in recent years, mainly due to human activity.

The only Chinese sturgeon spawning site in the country has failed to detect any signs of the fish’s reproduction for three consecutive years, beginning in 2013. Deteriorating reproduction of the critically endangered species has many experts worried, media reported in 2016. (Photo: Thepaper.cn)