The Species, American Paddlefish, Became Missouri’s Official Aquatic Animal in 1997
KANSAS CITY, Mo., (October 16, 2024): The world’s last species of its kind is getting a helpful hand in Kansas City. American Paddlefish, the last remaining species of paddlefish, are getting a chance at revival from SEA LIFE Kansas City. Four other species of paddlefish are extinct, including most recently the Chinese Paddlefish which were deemed extinct in 2022 due to habitat loss, pollution, overfishing, and dams.
SEA LIFE Kansas City, operated by Merlin Entertainments, received the important fish from United States Fish and Wildlife Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery and dozens of them are on display in the Aquarium’s freshwater area. Aquarists will care for the American Paddlefish for nearly a year, feeding them tiny fish, live naups, to teach natural filter-feeding behavior, and growth pellets to strengthen them before their release into the Missouri River in the summer of 2025.
“These are a really unique fish and charismatic fish – many of our guests have never seen a paddlefish before and these animals live right here in our backyard,” said Kayla Leyden, Curator at SEA LIFE Kansas City. “It is a great opportunity for us to engage the local community on a conservation issue allowing them a chance to see these animals before they graduate to the Missouri River.”
American paddlefish have a very broad historical range, but due to habitat loss, invasive species, and overfishing, their range is significantly smaller now. Under the supervision of Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department, SEA LIFE Kansas City will help reintroduce American Paddlefish and educate guests on this conservation initiative by releasing the fish. Guests will grow to love these amazing fish as they get up-close to these amazing creatures for the next few months at the Aquarium.
