The extraordinarily rare Devils Hole pupfish is getting some captive-raised reinforcements as federal biologists try to fend off the species’ extinction.
Prompted by a dramatic decline in the fish’s already sparse population — from 191 last year to a mere 38 this spring — the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service turned to a strategic plan completed several years ago.
The plan guided the two Interior Department agencies and their Nevada state counterpart to introduce for the first time 19 captive-raised pupfish into the deep limestone cavern, part of Death Valley National Park, where the species lives.
“The present size at near-record lows deserves our serious attention, and the actions in the strategic plan, including supplemental feeding and population augmentation, provide the best opportunity for recovery,” FWS senior fish biologist Michael Schwemm said in a statement.
