They haven’t been here for over a hundred years. Now scientists will track them down

An extinct sturgeon has been recreated at the Institute of Freshwater Ecology in Berlin. They were transferred to Sweden in April, where they acclimated to the pool for several months.

According to scientists, it will take at least 15 years before the fish, which are now 10 months old and half a meter long, return to the river to lay their eggs. For this reason, the Atlantic sturgeon will be under protection for a long time and will not be allowed to be caught, explained Dan Candelon, the biologist who created the project.

Scientists implanted transmitters in 78 released fish to track their path on computer screens.

An adult individual lives in the Atlantic Ocean and can reach five meters in length and weigh several hundred kilograms. The sturgeon is a bottom-dwelling fish, where it also finds food. Its natural enemies are spearfish and seals. Currently, Atlantic sturgeon live only off the coast and in the rivers of North America. It is commonly called the Ancient Dragon due to its distinctive back and ancient origins.

The project is led by the University of Gothenburg, the Swedish Agricultural University, the Natural History Museum and the Sportfiskarna Fishermen’s Association. In Sweden, the last species to be reintroduced was the beaver, reintroduced in 1922.