77,000 salmon miraculously survive an accident

A truck carrying more than 100 000 salmon overturned during an accident last week in a mountainous region of the western United States. The majority of its cargo, however, miraculously managed to reach a torrent below, according to American authorities.

“About 77,000 young salmon reached the river”, explained the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in a press release published Tuesday, April 2. The tanker truck was traveling in a mountainous area when it “tipped over on the roof” In “a sharp turn”. Its driver was not seriously injured. Unfortunately, not all the salmon had the strength to reach the water: 25 000 of them died in the truck or on the banks.

Endangered species

Chinook salmon are in danger due to the drought that has hit the American West in recent years. To help the salmon, authorities therefore raise fry in ponds and transport them by tanker truck to waterways near the Pacific, once they have reached a sufficient size to migrate to the ocean.

Their dramatic decline prompted a ban on salmon fishing last year off California and much of Oregon. But the accident “is not expected to impact our ability to collect future broodstock or maintain full production targets in the future.”assure the authorities.