China mourns native paddlefish scientists say is now extinct

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese pdlefish’s sharp, protruding sut me it one of largest freshwater species in world. Since scientists declared it extinct in a research paper published last week, Chinese internet users media outlets have been paying tribute to hefty creature.

“It’s farewell at first sight,” said China Youth Daily, ting that many were lamentably unfamiliar with pdlefish before learning of its demise. Users shared similar sentiments on Twitter-like Weibo platform.

So named for its distinctive shape, Chinese pdlefish, or Chinese swordfish, has a line dating back at least 34 million years, scientists believe. It could grow as long as 7 meters (23 feet), but in end, it couldn’t survive overfishing, habitat fragmentation and loss of biodiversity in its native Yangtze River, according to a research paper in Science of Total Environment, a peer-reviewed environmental science journal.

“As individuals exist in captivity, and living tissues are conserved for potential resurrection, fish should be considered extinct,” paper said, pointing to criteria for inclusion on International Union for Conservation of Nation’s (IUCN) Red List.

paper was authored by scientists from Chinese Acemy of Fishery Sciences, University of Kent and University of South Bohemia in Czech Republic.

Chinese pdlefish populations have declined drastically since late 1970s, paper said. decline corresponds with major dam construction in Yangtze. During that time, Gezhouba Dam was built on main stream of river, and opening of Three Gorges dam project followed in 2003 — last year a live Chinese pdlefish was sighted.

A survey in 2017 and 2018 found 332 fish species in Yangtze, but t a single specimen of Chinese pdlefish. researchers estimate that fish became extinct sometime between 2005 and 2010.

“ extinction of pdlefish is a huge loss and reflects critical status of Yangtze River ecosystem,” said Pan Wenjing, a forest and oceans manr for Greenpeace East Asia.

“ ecology of Yangtze River is close to collapse due to human activity in past deces,” Pan said. “China has launched its campaign trying to recover Yangtze River’s environment, and some ambitious policies have been introduced, such as 10-year ban on fishing activity.”

Users on Weibo expressed wish that a Chinese pdlefish might still resurface in river.

“Every time I see news of ar species going extinct, my heart starts to throb,” wrote one science blogger. “Humans should t live alone on this planet.”