Fish with 140 million years ago on the brink of extinction

The Chinese sturgeon, one of the oldest living things on Earth, are facing extinction due to pollution of the Yangtze River. The Chinese sturgeon is considered a "national treasure" in China, but even that didn't save a disappearance announced, due to the pollution, overfishing and habitat loss for the construction of dams.

In 2013, according to the Chinese Academy of fishery Science, there was no natural reproduction of Chinese sturgeon for the first time in 32 years that scientists monitor this species.

"The fact that there is no natural reproduction means that the Chinese sturgeon can not expand their population and, without protection, may be on the brink of extinction," said Wei Qiwie, a researcher of the Academy.

Currently there are only 100 Chinese sturgeon in their habitat. And this is not the only species to lose biodiversity in the Yangtze River: the population of dolphins 99.4% decreased between 1980 and 2006; and the Alligator population fell 97 percent from 1995 to 2010, according to AFP.

Over the past 50 years, according to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), the level of pollution grew 73% on the Yangtze River, mainly due to industrial, agricultural waste and sewage discharged into the water.

The exorbitant amount of polluters led to eutrophication, a process in which the excess of nutrients creates a low oxygen condition, making it almost impossible for life to all species.

The Chinese sturgeon is considered a living fossil â€" have been contemporaries of the dinosaurs, there are 140 million years.

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