The tiny Mexican tequila splitfin fish used to thrive in the waters off of Mexico, abundant and beautiful with their bright yellow tails. But by 2003, they had vanished from the wild - killed off by climate change, pollution in the water, and invasion by non-native fish species.
Now, almost 20 years later, researchers have
successfully reintroduced tequila fish to their natural environment, and they are thriving once more!
To keep this amazing feat going, governments must work together to keep waterways clean and free of pollution. Urge the Mexican government to work with regional authorities and scientists to preserve the tequila fish's habitat!Tequila fish are
phenomenally important to their ecosystem. The splitfin fish eat mosquitoes that spread disease and illness, including dengue fever - a painful infection that causes aches, vomiting, rashes, and dangerously high fevers. The fish are also a vital food source for other fish and even birds.
When this link in the food chain went missing, it threatened the balance of the entire ecosystem.Over the course of four years, researchers helped re-educate 80 fish that were living in artificial, essentially "domesticated" environments. By slowly exposing the fish to elements that might be found in their wild habitats, scientists helped teach the fish how to survive amid competition from other animals, and how to adapt to changeable circumstances. By the end of four years,
their colony of 80 fish had grown into 10,000! Out of this number, 1,500 now swim free in their original home waters.
Most importantly, conservationists now have a successful model that shows how to re-introduce animals that were previously extinct in the wild. This means that other sea life or animals that currently survive only in zoos or aquariums could become members of the larger wildlife community once again!
Researchers must learn from this success and continue implementing similar strategies to help other species survive!
But even more importantly, scientists and local governments must protect the Mexican tequila fish now that we have this victory. Sign the petition to urge the Mexican government to continue to fund conservation efforts to protect the tequila splitfin fish!