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A species of fish that was thought to be extinct has been rediscovered in Turkey. Researchers last scientifically documented the remarkable spotted fish in 2011, but then lost track of it. Now Turkish scientists have spotted the rare species in the Tigris again during an expedition.

The striking fish known as the leopard barbel (Luciobarbus subquincunciatus) was once common in the Tigris and Euphrates river systems. It happened in areas of eastern Turkey, eastern Syria, Iran and Iraq. However, various conditions, such as fishing, pollution or habitat destruction, and the construction of dams, have put increasing pressure on the spotted swimmer.

The difficult search for a fish that was thought to be extinct

Professor Cüneyt Kaya and Assistant Professor Müevver Oral from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University made it their mission to find the almost forgotten fish. “There is nothing better than the feeling when you realize that a species brought to the brink of extinction is still surviving despite all odds,” Kaya told the environmental organization “Rewild” after the successful find.

To make the search easier, the research team had to adjust its strategy: the nine dams in the Turkish part of the Tigris change the water flow regime and cold water is released downstream. This drives many freshwater fish to warmer waters, making the search more difficult.

The hoped-for rediscovery eventually came about through a video call from local fisherman Mehmet Ülkü. He had caught a leopard barb 50 centimeters long and two kilos and kept it alive. The two investigators immediately went to him.

Rediscovery helps species conservation in Turkey

“We dropped everything and would have gone to the ends of the earth to see this fish, this legend, alive in the wild,” Oral said after arriving at the fisherman Ülkü. After taking photos and collecting data, the two leopard bears were safely released by local fisheries control.

“To protect this species in the future, we need to educate other fishermen,” emphasized Ülkü, the fisherman. He also said: “We all have a role to play in protecting our incredible natural heritage and I am proud to have been able to use my skills to contribute to the rediscovery of the leopard barbel.”

In the future, Kaya and Oral want to sensitize their colleagues with seminars and point out the protection of the Tigris and its biodiversity. They hope to find out more information about possible leopard barb incidents and ensure their protection.

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