Concerned Arizona State University ecologists are releasing hundreds of fish into a pond near Tucson to keep species alive which have become scarce. The fish released were the Gila topminnow fish, which have become scant in Arizona though their population was once rather large.

Outdoor News Daily reports:

It’s been a plan long in the making, but yesterday, the first Gila topminnow fish were re-established in their native Arizona waters as part of a new program aimed at enlisting the help of non-federal landowners to conserve this endangered species.

More than 200 fish were released into the TimBuckTwo pond near Amado, south of Tucson, on private land. The fish for this inaugural release came from Arizona State University (ASU), where breeding stock is maintained for the species. In addition to ASU, Desert Harbor Elementary School in Peoria also maintains a captive population of Gila topminnow.

 

“These fish were once common in southern Arizona below 5,200 feet, but populations declined due to habitat loss and competition from non-native species,” says Jeff Sorensen, native fish and invertebrate program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Today’s stocking is particularly important because these fish are of the rare Redrock lineage that only existed in captivity until today. This release will help us increase the numbers of this important lineage.”

It is hoped that the release of Gila topminnow fish will replenish the population. Now, if only we could just release money into the economy to improve its health…