Photo release: Conservationists release extinct-in-the-wild golden skiffia into natural habitat in Mexican river

With the help of local children, a team of conservationists have released more than 1,000 golden skiffia (Skiffia francesae), a freshwater fish found only in Mexico, into the species’ native range in the Teuchitlán River, Jalisco. The golden skiffia has not been seen in the wild since the late 1990s as the result of water extraction, pollution and the introduction of invasive species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has classified the species as extinct in the wild. This weekend’s events, in the midst of Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations, included formal speeches at the Guachimontones archaeological site visitor center, traditional dances and the official release of the fish.

Bringing the species back from the ‘dead’ is the result of collaborative conservation work between Michoacan University of Mexico, Chester Zoo, Goodeid Working Group and SHOAL (a program of Re:wild and Synchronicity Earth).

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Photo by Manfred Meiners/Re:wild

Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is a world-leading conservation and education charity that’s committed to preventing extinction and dedicated to raising awareness of key conservation and environmental challenges. The zoo’s 128-acre site in Chester, which is home to more than 27,000 animals and more than 500 species, is where this species-saving work is made possible. The zoo’s work focuses on more than 3,000 species globally, with over 100 partners in more than 20 countries, and includes 140 international animal conservation breeding programs, which are ensuring the survival of species on the very brink of extinction. Learn more at chesterzoo.org

Goodeid Working Group
The Goodeid Working Group is a non-profitable international working group managed and run on a 100% voluntary basis. It was established on 01 May 2009 in Stoholm, Denmark in response to the critical environmental issues facing the majority of wild goodeid species and populations, plus the poorly-documented ‘disappearance’ of many captive collections. The primary goal of the Goodeid Working Group is to promote collaboration between like-minded hobbyists, universities, public aquaria, zoos, museums and conservation projects in order to maintain aquarium populations of goodeids while assisting in preservation of remaining natural habitats. Find out more at goodeidworkinggroup.com.

SHOAL
SHOAL is the global collaborative initiative to halt the extinction and recover populations of the most threatened freshwater species in the wild. Freshwater species are going extinct faster than their marine or terrestrial cousins, and almost one in three of those alive today could soon disappear, never to return. There is an urgent need for determined action, and SHOAL is building a strong community of partners that work together to give critical attention, escalate support, and accelerate and intensify the action that is required to stem the tide of extinction and recover endangered species populations throughout the Earth’s freshwaters. Join The Shoal at shoalconservation.org.

SHOAL is a program of Synchronicity Earth and Re:wild. Synchronicity Earth is a charity registered in the UK and Wales No: 1132786 and a company limited by guarantee No: 06952204. Re:wild is a U.S.-based 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

Re:wild
Re:wild protects and restores the wild. We have a singular and powerful focus: the wild as the most effective solution to the interconnected climate, biodiversity and human wellbeing crises. Founded by a group of renowned conservation scientists together with Leonardo DiCaprio, Re:wild is a force multiplier that brings together Indigenous peoples, local communities, influential leaders, nongovernmental organizations, governments, companies and the public to protect and rewild at the scale and speed we need. Learn more at rewild.org.

Synchronicity Earth
Synchronicity Earth is a UK-based conservation charity that acts to address overlooked and underfunded conservation challenges for globally threatened species and ecosystems.