The Chinese Paddlefish Has Been Declared The First Extinct Species Of 2020

Jan 21, 2020 by apost team

As the world faces new challenges in the new year, news broke that the first extinct species of 2020 has been named. The Chinese Paddlefish lost its battle with existence and was declared officially extinct according to the stipulations set out by the Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Chinese Paddlefish were declared endangered all the way back in 1989, but no significant changes were made then or since to attempt to save the species. Throughout history the species was abundant, being found up and down the Yangtze River, but by the '80s there were just too many factors contributing to the demise of the species to turn the tide of decline around.

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The three factors impacting this species beyond saving were pollution, loss of habitat, and overfishing. Ultimately, it was the loss of habitat and the ability to breed that not only spurred the decline of the fish but led to its total demise. In 1981 the Gezhouba Dam was built, creating a physical barrier between the population and preventing re-population. The Chinese Paddlefish traditionally swam upstream to spawn, something they were now prevented from doing.

Conservationists never stepped in with efforts to aid the species, either through breeding programs or by creating alternate paths to reproduction. The sheer size of the fish prevented scientists from every attempting to keep any in captivity in order to create a breeding program, but the demise of a nationally recognized fish has convinced conservationists that more must be done for other threatened species.

The Chinese Paddlefish is unique in appearance, with its most distinctive feature giving it the nickname of an elephant fish. It has a nose that extends from its face in much the way a tail would extend from the rear of a fish, resembling a paddle. The species closely resembles the appearance of an alligator gar or a sturgeon. Its sheer size made it one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, and one of the most sought after catches by fishermen up and down the river.

Even when decisions for the progress of society are made that will impact the lives of an entire species, we must do what we can to aid its survival The loss of even one species is too big a change for any ecosystem and a loss for the entire world.

While this may be the first extinct species of the 2020s, it is not bound to be the last. What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to others!