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| credit: Zoological Society of London |
He is not the most handsome fish in the tank, but he was the only Mangarahara cichlid
(Ptychochromis insolitus) swimming save one other male, in the London Zoo's aquarium. He needed urgent help to find his mate because the species was considered extinct in his native Madagascar. The Zoo launched an appeal to find other Mangarahara cichilds in the world and got a large response. A Madagascar businessman told the Zoo he had seen the fish in northern Madagascar. An expedition was launched with the help of the British Embassy in Madagascar and the Toronto Zoo. After days of searching the expedition found a tiny stream disconnected from the Mangarahara River. Locals helped cordon off sections of the remnant steam with nets and examine captured fish. Eventually, the last remaining Mangarahara cichlids were found in the wild. It was a shocking discovery since most of the fish's native habitat is destroyed. The river now resembles its desert surrounds, a result of deforestation and intensive agricultural overuse. The pool in which the tiny number of the remaining cichilds live is non-flowing and not ideal for their survival, but they found the water source and managed to hang on until found by the Zoo's searchers. The Zoo's aquarium curator said they are doing all they can to protect the remaining fish. Eighteen cichlids are now housed in a private aquaculture facility in Madagascar, and a plan for their conservation and captive breeding is being developed. Back in London, the Zoo's male no doubt anxiously awaits his new mate from home.