Fish Declared Extinct in the 1980s Is 'Back from the Brink' with Over 200 Released into the Wild

Mar. 15, 2025

Olive perchlet.Photo:North Central CMA

North Central CMA

A fish previously declared extinct has been released back into the wild in Australia.

The olive perchlet, a small oval-shaped fish with large eyes, was considered extinct in Victoria, Australia, in the 1980s after being last spotted in nature in 1929, according to theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation. Now, the species is getting another shot at life and is “back from the brink.”

The release occurred in January and reportedly marks the first time the fish has been reintroduced in the area since being labeled extinct.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the olive perchlet plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, particularly in maintaining a healthy food system.

Murray River in South Australia.Getty

Getty

The fish frequent wetlands and river systems and are known to eat tiny aquatic pests. They are also a food source for birds.

“From just 100 Olive Perchlet released last October, we discovered a whopping 855 individuals thriving, ranging from 14 mm to 49 mm,” wrote the agency.

TheNew South Wales Department of Primary Industriesstates that the olive perchlet can grow to about 70 to 88 millimeters with an average size of about 2 inches.

The fish thrive in rivers, creeks, ponds, and swamps with slow or still waters and are often found on vegetation, logs, and dead branches.

Last month, researchers rediscovered another fish speciesin Indiaafter 85 years. The journalZootaxaannounced that a Chel snakehead, also known as Channa amphibious, was rediscovered after it was presumed to be extinct.

The freshwater species was absent for over eight decades, with the last recorded specimens collected between 1918 and 1933 in the Himalayan region of India. But in 2024, three specimens were collected on the banks of the Chel River in the town of Kalimpong in West Bengal.

source: people.com