Back to life: This fish thought to be extinct for 85 years was discovered in a remote Himalayan river

Researchers recently discovered a rare species of fish that was thought to have been gone from the world forever. After 85 years without a sighting, the bright and unique fish has reappeared in the Himalayan region of India.

The Chel Snakehead

The fish is called the Chel Snakehead (Channa amphibeus) and is identified by its vibrant green scales, yellow stripes, and enormous size. It is the largest amongst the known snakehead species. Still, researchers hadn’t located one in eight decades, with the last recorded sighting dating back to 1933.

But in 2024, researchers were told that some indigenous communities had spotted the fish in the Himalayan town of Kalimpong, with some even using the fish for food as well. Researchers then traveled deep into the Chel River in West Bengal and were able to find and collect three live specimens.

“The resolution of this long-standing mystery reinforces the importance of continued exploration and highlights the persistence of biodiversity, even in species once thought lost to time,” said Tejas Thackeray, founder of the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation.

Scientists believe that the fish’s habitat being so isolated as well as the fast flow of the river could have contributed to how it eluded researchers for all this time. There are still several environmental threats to the Chel Snakehead, but now that its existence is known, conservation efforts can begin.

The Thackeray Wildlife Foundation and other conservationists hope to research the Chel Snakehead even further to better understand its population, behaviors, and ecological needs so that they can protect it and its environment.

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