Tequila fish: A Freshwater success story

3 March 2022

Conservationists in Mexico and from the UK are hopeful that the reintroduction of Tequila Fish into Mexico's rivers will lead way to a full and healthy ecosystem recovery

Many of Mexico’s water ways are so polluted that freshwater species of fish and axolotl’s are in danger of going extinct. Once extinct, this biodiversity loss leaves the habitats poorer and less able to defend themselves from new diseases and predators.

The Tequila fish, however, is making a comeback! It had become extinct in the wild, but conservationists in the Chester Zoo in the UK successfully bred 5 pairs and sent them to Mexico! Here, scientists bred them to much larger numbers and prepared them for release!

It was an exciting day as they were returned and 10,000 were released into the river system. One exciting part of the project was the local people were all taking part in the scheme had had helped to undo the pollution and harm that come to the river in the first place. It is only with the help of the locals that this was possible, but with a healthier river as part of their community, they will also be happier and healthier!

TALKING POINT

Why do you think that the local Mexican's will benefit from a healthier river ecosystem?

Axolotls and other river animals will also benefit from the reintroduction of the Tequila fish. How do you think they will?

The original news article can be found here! ⤴

Photo credit

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zoogoneticus_tequila_-_PorteDoreeParis_25.JPG
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
Zoogoneticus tequila
Aquarium Tropical du Palais de la Porte Dorée Paris France
Cedricguppy - Loury Cédric