Thousands of dead fries were found in Beijing's Kunyu River on May 31, 2010. According to an official from the Beijing Urban River and Lake Management Department, they had been introduced into the river a few days earlier to restrict the growth of algae and protect the river environment. The official said the fish died because heavy rainfall had caused a flow of mud into the river. The 10-kilometer Kunyu River was used by the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty. [China.org.cn by David Ferguson]