At Whipsnade Zoo, a crucial campaign of conservation has been launched with the aim of saving the critically endangered Boxer pupfish, Cyprinodon simus.
The discovery that the zoo was the last refuge for the remaining individual of this species ignited their concerted efforts. Originally listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, the absence of the fish in their natural habitat was reported by Mexican collaborators, indicating the possible complete extinction in the wild.
The introduction of non-native fish including the Mayan cichlid is a significant cause of the collapse of the pupfish population. Whipsnade Zoo’s aquarium experts, realizing the gravity of the situation, began an urgent conservation initiative. This involved the shipment of Boxer pupfish progeny to the Bristol Zoo Project to establish a backup population through a specialized breeding program.
Facing Down Extinction
Indigenous to Lake Chichancanab in Mexico, the Boxer pupfish is pivotal to maintaining the balance in its ecosystem. “Learning that we might have lost the last wild Boxer pupfish was a wake-up call, but we couldn’t waste time lamenting. We had to swiftly enact measures to secure the survival of this species,” shared Alex Cliffe, Assistant Curator of Fish at ZSL and European program coordinator for pupfish.
ZSL, which administers Whipsnade Zoo, has a proven track record in the resurgence of species declared extinct in the wild and in the conservation of critically endangered animal species. To foster the continuation of the species, the team expertly collected eggs from the pupfish enclosures using bundles of wool, resembling their natural spawning conditions, and safely transported them to Bristol. This process was conducted with the utmost care to preserve the genetic integrity and variety of the fish.
Brian Zimmerman, the Director of Conservation and Science at Bristol Zoological Society, articulated the crucial role that conservation-focused zoos and aquariums play in averting the disappearance of endangered freshwater fish. “Specialized zoos and aquariums are on the vanguard of species conservation efforts,” acknowledged Zimmerman.
Protecting the Boxer pupfish is vital not just for their own survival, but also for the sustenance of the species that feed on them, such as various bird and reptile species. “The complete reliance of a species’ future on conservation institutions becomes a stark reality once it ceases to exist in its natural surroundings,” Cliffe emphasized the critical nature of their work.
Collaborative actions alongside Mexican authorities and the IUCN will continue in an effort to confirm the current status of the Boxer pupfish population in the wild. In the interim, controlled propagation in conservation zoos is underway to ward off the potential total loss of this distinctive aquatic species..
