A rare paddlefish has been returned to the Yangtze River after three days of treatment -- including surgery -- on injuries accidentally inflicted by fishermen.
The four-meter paddlefish was caught near Yibin city, on the upper reaches of the Yangtze, and was reported to the authorities, including the State Council, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The 150-kilogram fish was found to be a female, aged about 30 and ready to spawn.
Its injuries on head and tail were soon discovered by the fisherman and he soon reported it to relevant departments.
A medical group was immediately dispatched to Yibin and a special fish raising vessel was prepared so the fish could be treated for injuries to its head and tail.
After a successful operation, the fish started to recover.
The paddlefish returned to the Yangtze last Monday by carrying an electronic tracking device so that experts could monitor its progress round the clock.
The paddlefish enjoys first level national protection in China and lives exclusively in the Yangtze and Qiantang rivers.
(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2003)
