First, illegal fishing. In the past, human beings would catch a large number of Yangtze sturgeon for economic benefits, but at this time, the country has not issued a clear ban on fishing.

Residents around the Yangtze River basin make profits from fishing, which is one of the direct reasons for the extinction of wild paddlefish.

Second, habitat loss. Dams built in the Yangtze River basin blocked their migration routes, and unsustainable sand mining destroyed their spawning grounds, resulting in habitat loss.

There is little hope that the Yangtze sturgeon will recover. The reason for the extinction of the paddlefish is simple, that is, it no longer adapts to the present environment.

The paddlefish is an ancient species that has lived for 1 100 million years. It likes a cooler environment and is extinct due to environmental changes caused by human activities and other factors.