Animals A new rarity swims through the aquarium at Zurich Zoo

An absolute rarity has recently started swimming through an aquarium at Zurich Zoo: a small population of Mangarahara cichlids from Madagascar, one of the rarest fish species in the world. There are only 370 of them left in the world - all in zoos and aquariums.

14 specimens of the rare cichlid now live in the aquarium at Zurich Zoo. According to information from the zoo on Thursday, this is a starting population. Their task is therefore clear: to produce offspring in order to save the species from extinction.

With the breeding program and a conservation project in Madagascar, there is hope that the species can be preserved in the long term, according to the zoo. The problem with the whole project, however, is that reintroduction into the wild is currently not possible.

The Mangarahara cichlid was native to a single river system in northern Madagascar. However, this was virtually destroyed by the construction of dams and the irrigation of rice fields.

Only 18 specimens left

In 2013, there were only four living Mangarahara cichlids left in two zoos worldwide - three males and one female. When the female died, the species was considered as good as lost.

However, researchers found 18 specimens in a side arm of a stream. The survivors were caught and brought to a fish station, where they reproduced. In 2014, the first offspring were finally distributed to various zoos around the world for conservation breeding.

At Zurich Zoo, three tanks are now reserved for endangered fish species from Madagascar. In addition to the Mangarahara cichlid, red-tailed spikefish and the other cichlid species Marakeli, Menarambo and Sambirano also live there.