European Sturgeon at Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam (Holland)

The European Sturgeon, also known as the Atlantic Sturgeon or Common Sturgeon, is a species of sturgeon native to Europe. It was formerly abundant, being found in coastal habitats all over Europe from the Black Sea to the North Sea. It is anadromous and breeds in rivers. Populations of the species were decreasing dramatically at the end of the 19th century. Today, the European sturgeon is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and one of the most endangered fish species in Europe, being in a critical danger of extinction.

Diergaarde Blijdorp, officially Rotterdam Zoo, is a zoo located in the northwestern part of Rotterdam. It is one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands, and has been operated by the Stichting Koninklijke Rotterdamse Diergaarde ("Royal Rotterdam Zoo Foundation"). Divided into several zoogeographic regions, the 26-hectare (64.25-acre) Blijdorp Zoo is home to more than 180 species. It also has a shop, multiple cafes, and an information centre. The zoo is a member of the Dutch Zoo Federation (NVD) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). In 2007, it celebrated its 150th anniversary. The "Oceanium" is an aquarium that opened in the zoo in 2001.