Ocean Park is saddened to announce that a captive bred Chinese sturgeon succumbed to a short illness yesterday morning (28 June). Since 24 June, the sturgeon was observed to have had small patches of redness around its snout and a noticeable reduced appetite. It was immediately treated with antibiotics, but its condition unexpectedly and rapidly deteriorated yesterday, and it subsequently passed away. Initial findings attribute this unexpected fatality to a generalised bacterial infection. Hopefully, laboratory and histopathology reports will provide more information on the cause of death.
Ms. Suzanne Gendron, Executive Director of Zoological Operations and Education, said, “It is with sadness that we report the loss of our important education ambassador. We are working closely with the Yangtze River Fishery Research Institution (YRFRI) to identify the causative bacterium that is affecting the fish, and most importantly, to derive effective treatment options, in order to increase survivorship of sturgeons under human care. We will continue to monitor the rest of the sturgeons, conduct regular health screening and physical examinations, as well as monitor water quality closely to ensure they remain healthy.”
Professor Wei Qiwei of the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, said, “We are sorry to see that the sturgeon failed to thrive, despite the immense amount of effort Ocean Park has put into treating and caring for the fish. The Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute and Ocean Park shares the common goal of preventing the extinction of Chinese sturgeons in the wild, and we will continue to work towards this goal through enhancing captive husbandry and conservation of this species.”
Ocean Park’s Chinese Sturgeon Aquarium - Yangtze Exploration is currently home to 11 captive bred sturgeons under the research collaboration with the YRFI. The Park has already notified the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing Aquarium and the Yangtze River Fisheries Institute of the incident.
Ms. Suzanne Gendron, Executive Director of Zoological Operations and Education, said, “It is with sadness that we report the loss of our important education ambassador. We are working closely with the Yangtze River Fishery Research Institution (YRFRI) to identify the causative bacterium that is affecting the fish, and most importantly, to derive effective treatment options, in order to increase survivorship of sturgeons under human care. We will continue to monitor the rest of the sturgeons, conduct regular health screening and physical examinations, as well as monitor water quality closely to ensure they remain healthy.”
Professor Wei Qiwei of the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, said, “We are sorry to see that the sturgeon failed to thrive, despite the immense amount of effort Ocean Park has put into treating and caring for the fish. The Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute and Ocean Park shares the common goal of preventing the extinction of Chinese sturgeons in the wild, and we will continue to work towards this goal through enhancing captive husbandry and conservation of this species.”
Ocean Park’s Chinese Sturgeon Aquarium - Yangtze Exploration is currently home to 11 captive bred sturgeons under the research collaboration with the YRFI. The Park has already notified the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing Aquarium and the Yangtze River Fisheries Institute of the incident.
- End -
