Thousands of Chinese sturgeons implanted with tiny microchips were set free in the Yangtze River yesterday as part of a plan to study the migration patterns of the endangered species.
Among the 1,512 fish released, 150 were wild sturgeons that were caught by fishermen by mistake, while the others were artificially bred and raised in captivity.
"This is the first time in China that wild and artificially bred sturgeons were released together and the first time chips were implanted in the sturgeons," said Liu Jian, deputy director of the Administration Agency of Shanghai Yangtze Estuarine Protected Area for Chinese Sturgeon.
Currently, the Chinese sturgeon is on the verge of extinction, although scientists can't say with any accuracy just how many remain in the wild. The species, which is believed to be 150 million years old, is viewed as a "living fossil."
"It is significant for scientists to explore the secrets of life by finding out how the fish lives," said Xie Yimin, director of the Shanghai Wildlife Conservation Administration Office. "But now we know little about it."
Liu said researchers can use the implanted microchips to study migration routes.
Each of the fish also carries a small marker with a phone number, so if they are caught they can be returned to the administration.

(Source: www.shanghai.gov.cn )