Mission to revive boxer pupfish after zoo finds it has the only one left

A ZOO is spearheading a conservation effort to save a rare fish species from extinction - after discovering it had the last remaining boxer pupfish.

- Filipa Gaspar

The species' official status classified it as "near threatened" until a recent survey by its partners in Mexico suggested the wild population has been wiped out. That was believed to be caused by the introduction of invasive fish species such as the Mayan cichlid.

Found only in Lake Chichancanab in Mexico, their extinction puts other animals in that ecosystem at risk, such as species of bird and reptiles that feed on them.

Precious

Aquarists at Whipsnade Zoo were told they it had the world's last remaining boxer pupfish so started an urgent plan to safeguard the species.

The Bedfordshire conservation zoo transported precious boxer pupfish eggs to Bristol Zoo Project.