Bug kills Ocean Park sturgeon, but two ill fish out of danger

Ocean Park has lost its second sturgeon, this time from an infection that staff are still trying to identify.

Two of the remaining eight sturgeon had shown similar symptoms and were moved out of their aquarium. They were now out of danger, a park spokeswoman said.

The fish died on Wednesday after symptoms of an infection that did not respond to treatment, she said. It was 10 years old, about 2 metres long and was bred in captivity.

'Right now, I really can't tell what caused the death and the infection. We are still investigating and waiting for results from the laboratory,' the spokeswoman said.

The six sturgeon still in the aquarium will be moved while it is closed for checking and cleaning, she said.

Ocean Park lost a sturgeon in June when one died from a bite by a barracuda kept in the same tank, triggering criticism the park was wrong to house the species together. After mainland experts inspected the facilities, Beijing decided to send five more sturgeons, considered 'national treasures', taking the total to nine. Park chairman Allan Zeman pledged at the time they would do their best to ensure their safety.

Chinese sturgeon, which have changed little in 140 million years, are rarer than pandas, with fewer than 1,000 in existence.