Chinese Paddlefish: River Giant Lost
One of the world’s largest freshwater fish vanished from China’s Yangtze River around 2003. These ancient fish grew up to 23 feet long with distinctive sword-like snouts. Dam construction blocked their migration routes. Overfishing removed breeding adults faster than they could reproduce. Pollution degraded their habitat. Scientists officially declared their extinction in 2020 after years of comprehensive surveys failed to find any survivors.