Liu Jian (left) and some of the Chinese sturgeons (right) being tamed to adapt to wildlife when are released to nature

One of the endangered species in China called Chinese sturgeon, including over 10,000 other species, are being tamed and released to the Yangtze River and sea annually by officials of Nature Reserve for Chinese Sturgeon.

The project to tame these species costs the Chinese authorities in Shanghai 10 million yuan, approximately US$1,476,900 annually.

Speaking to journalists at the Living Yangtze Pavilion in Shanghai, Director of Superintendency Department of Shanghai Yangtze Estuarine Nature Reserve for Chinese Sturgeon, Liu Jian, said they have been reserving some endangered species and those that were about to be phased out have been recovered.

He said they are currently raising, breeding and preserving three endangered species including the Chinese sturgeon and thousands of other species like shrimps, crabs, tortoise, frogs, and fish, among others.

“In some cases, we breed these species and in other cases, we find them close to the point of death after they must have been hurt by some fishing nets or their counterparts in the Yangtze River or sea. We inject them with the required medicine or sometimes do surgical operation on them, feed and give them the environment to recover,” he explained.

He noted that they even tame those that are too weak and prepare them for wildlife in the river or sea before releasing them.

Liu Jian stated that for the Chinese sturgeon, they will tame them for over 12 years before they release them to nature, adding that during these years, the sturgeon would be trained on how to adapt to wildlife, among other trainings.

The reserve area where some endangered species are being tamed on how to adapt to wildlife

He said they have also been educating the public not to fish out the species for consumption and if by accident they are caught during the fishing process or they are hurt, the fishermen should hand them over to the appropriate authorities for resuscitation and subsequent release to nature.

The Nature Reserve director also said they normally release thousands of Chinese sturgeons and other species to nature more than once every year.

He noted that the Chinese sturgeon can be 3-5 meter long, adding that they have lots of biodiversity because the species are raised for both fresh water and the sea.

Asked if neighboring countries are not in the habit of catching the Chinese sturgeon and subsequently lead to its reduction, Liu Jian said there is a strong understanding between China and her neighbors that the Chinese sturgeon are endangered species and they should not be tampered with.

He revealed that the Shanghai Yangtze Estuarine Nature Reserve for Chinese Sturgeon was established in July 2003, noting that a whopping sum of 100 million yuan, approximately US$15 million, was invested in the entire project.

He also noted that the authorities spend 10 million yuan (US$1,476,900) yearly to manage the affairs of the various species in the reserve.