Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network.
Long-Lost ‘Legend’–Leopard Barbel Fish Found Again in Turkey’s Dammed-up Rivers
Leopard Barbel (Photo by Metin Yoksu)
A team of ichthyologists (zoologists who study fishes) in Türkiye (Turkey) has rediscovered a “legend” in the form of a carp-like, spotted fish called the leopard barbel (Luciobarbus subquincunciatus) in the Turkish section of the Tigris River.
The leopard barbel was once abundant, ranging from Eastern Türkiye, Eastern Syria, Iran, and Iraq in the Tigris-Euphrates river system. Over the last three decades, however, fishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and dam construction have pushed the species to the edge of extinction and was last scientifically documented in 2011.
However, anecdotal evidence from local fishers suggested that the fish may have still been out there, so Associate Professor Cüneyt Kaya and Assistant Professor Münevver Oral at Recep Tayyip Erdogan University enlisted their help to find one.
“There is nothing quite like the feeling of finding that a species that has been pushed to the brink of extinction is still hanging on, despite the odds,” said Kaya upon their success. “It is even more thrilling than discovering a new species because it means that we can give a rare species a second chance.
The team started by looking at the scientific literature about where the species had been previously found. However, those data were collected before nine dams were built in the Turkish portion of the Tigris River.
The dams alter water flow regimes, and cold water accumulating at the reservoirs’ bottom is sometimes released downstream. The release of cold water drives many freshwater fish toward warmer waters, so the team had to adjust its strategy to look further downstream from the dams.
Just days after the second of two expeditions, Kaya and Oral got a video call from local fisherman Mehmet Ülkü. He had caught a 20-inch (50 centimeter), 4.4-pound (2-kilogram) fish with conspicuous black spots and the telltale fleshy filament that dangles from the mouths of this type of freshwater fish.
Ülkü kept the fish alive overnight in a tank with a constant oxygen supply. At the same time, Kaya took a direct flight to the region and then drove nearly six hours to Cizre in the far southeastern reaches of Turkish Kurdistan, where the species was found, while Oral drove more than 11 hours through the night to see the fish and confirm its identity.
By the time they arrived, Ülkü had caught a second leopard barbel safely in his nets, and they were able to help him release the first one as well.
“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. “I have never seen a fish as beautiful as this. It was the realization not only of our dream to find this lost species but of the hope that not all is lost—we still have a chance to protect the leopard barbel and all of the other incredible freshwater species it shares its home with.”
After Kaya and Oral took photos and measured the size and shape of the two fish, they were joined by the local Cizre fisheries aquaculture department to release the fish safely, which they described as a joyous event.
“We all have a role to play in protecting our incredible natural heritage, and I am proud to have used my skills to help rediscover the leopard barbel,” Ülkü, the fisherman, said. “Safeguarding this species into the future will require educating other fishers and bringing scientific knowledge and local expertise together.”
Kaya and Oral plan to conduct a series of seminars for fishers and teachers to help build pride in their riverways and wildlife, using the rediscovery as a case study to protect the Tigris River and its rich biodiversity. They are also hoping to better understand how many leopard barbel might still exist and where they are still found across their historic range.
The expedition to confirm the leopard barbel still exists was co-funded by Re:wild, the world leaders rediscovering and protecting lost species. The fish is the second on Re:wild and SHOAL’s Most Wanted Lost Fishes list to be rediscovered. The first, the Batman River loach, was found by the same intrepid team in Southeastern Türkiye in late 2021.
The good news in this situation is that in spite of human negligence, a species fights hard and survives. Today’s JohnKu talks about the ability of animals to survive. I hope you have a beautiful weekend.
Nature by John W. Howell © 2023
In spite of humans,
Species fight hard to survive . . .
Nature can be tough.
Fiction Favorites 
Nice post 📕
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Thank you. 😊
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Welcome 🙏 freinds
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So heartening, John. Watching the destruction of so much natural habitat for so many species here in Florida…it’s heartbreaking. Amazing to see Mother Nature’s resilience at work. 💪
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Florida has been hard hit since the 60s. I’m surprised there is an animal left.
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You and me both, John. It is gut wrenching to witness.
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I’m sure it is.
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“In spite of humans…” – Makes me a little sad to read something that starts out like that. Great story, very nicely summed up in your poem.
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The Turks have built so many dams that fish survival is a crap shoot.
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This is great news! ❤
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It is Annette. In spite of the Turks not giving a crap about the effects of dam building the fish is still there.
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Good to read something positive and promising in news! Good luck, Leopard fish.
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Thank you, Joy. I agree. 😊
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Excellent JohnKu … “In spite of humans” is a great point and opening line. Thanks for another good story involving an animal on the comeback. Have a good weekend.
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Thank you, Frank. Have a good one as well.
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This terrific, John. When a species an defy us and our stupidity, it’s a great day!!
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I agree. There is definitely a lot of stupidly at play.
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Human progress almost always infringes on nature’s creatures habitat. It’s nice to see people concerned about this, and creatures trying to overcome it. Thanks for showing this, John. Have a good weekend.
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Thank you, Tim. I am always glad to find stories where people are trying to make a difference. Have a good weekend as well. Keep that snow shovel handy and stay warm. 😊.
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I did some shoveling yesterday, John, my driveway and the 93-year-old neighbor’s across the street. Looks like more is on the way.
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Aw good for you. I’m sure that neighbor appreciates you. If not, I do.
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Another wonderful story. This is my news source for a little positivity each week.
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Glad to deliver. Thanks, Craig.
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I’m with Craig. All week I see nothing but bad news, but your Friday post is a light at the end of the tunnel, John.
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I’m glad you like it, Teri. Thanks. 😁
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I’m glad they’re still around and I hope they continue to be.
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Me too. Thanks, Deborah.
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I’m glad for this, and I hope they continue to thrive.
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I do too Kymber. Thanks.
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Very enlightening and uplifting, John, but I hope there are more out there to reproduce. Have they thought about trying to breed them in a lab and release the offspring?
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These guys probably have. Will have to convince the Turks to do something.
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Nice to see legends come or return to life.
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Yes it is. Thanks, Charles.
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I hadn’t heard this one, so thank you for passing it along. Kind of looks like a Dalmatian, doesn’t it?!
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Yes it does. Ha ha ha.
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‘In spite of humans.’..we do have a way of mucking things up, don’t we? This is a good news story I needed to hear. Thank you, John.
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I’m glad it came when you needed it, Lois.
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I always smile when I see stories like this about nature bouncing back from our repetitive poisoning of their environments. 🙂
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Me too. it’s like “No mater what you do, humans, I’m still here to bite you.”
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Beautiful fish…. Showing that despite everything, these fish are survivors… We keep outdoor pond fish, Shubunkin Gold fish, we have had some nearly 10 years.. They can live 10 to 15 years…
We used to keep a tropical aquarium for many years, too…. But no longer keep one now….
Fish very calming to watch..
You too have a peaceful weekend John xx
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When I lived in California I had an outdoor pond. We put goldfish in it and they grew to the size of coy. My Mane Coon cat would sit by the edge watching them and dreaming of getting one. (He never did)
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Thankfully my cat John, hunts mice. He isn’t interested in fish or birds, thankfully.
And yes they xan grow a good size, they grow larger if the pond surrounding are bigger. Xx
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We loved seeing them get big.
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Yay! Nature prevails 🙂
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Yup.
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Definitely is tough! It also gives us hope that other species will be rediscovered. All is not lost.
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There have been a few lost species discovered so let’s hope there are more.
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This is such happy news! Thank you for sharing, John.
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Thak you, Mar. So glad you like it.
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Thank goodness, “nature can be tough.” Great post, John. Thank you for sharing the story! Have a wonderful weekend. 😊
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Thank you, Gwen. Hope you have a great weekend as well.
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Great news! I’ve read these stories where scientists thought a species had been extinct for 20 or more years, and then a sighting happens.
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YUP
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Have you seen any Loch Ness monsters recently? 😊
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No and I went there in person to check it out.
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Your JohnKu is spot on! Despite human’s recklessness, species fight to survive. A great story!
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Thanks, Jan.
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It’s inspiring when a species fights like hell, against all odds, and survives. And it’s equally inspiring to know we have people who will work just as hard to keep it that way.
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Make you want a giant shark that was extinct come up and bite a boat in half.
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Something like that.
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😁
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Good news! Nature needs to be tough!!!
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She does.
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These are beautiful fish that need to be preserved. They remind me of (freshwater) silver leopard cats I used to have as an aquarium hobbyist/enthusiast (which I pursued for many, many years). Thanks for the FriYay, John!
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Thanks for sharing your fish story, Mae. Glad you liked the story.
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A very apt, but lovely Johnku. It always makes me smile to hear of a species they thought was extinct, but then some are found. Hugs.
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A smile maker for sure. Hugs
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Always wonderful to discover that no, a species has not completely disappeared. It’s wonderful to have People like these invested in their care and study.
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It is wonderful, Dale. Gotta wonder what motivates them to do it. Thanks. 😊
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So true. I often wonder what “thing” triggers them. Love it.
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Yes, indeed.
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😊
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I LOVE stories like this where nature manages to overcome the worst of humankind’s destruction. Thanks, John!
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It is too bad that nature has to work so hard. Thanks, Jill.
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Indeed it is … just imagine if all humans were dedicated to protecting and preserving nature …
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Would be wonderful.
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Survival instincts are powerful. I love these Good News stories.
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I do too, Jennie.
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😀
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😁
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Amazing encouraging news, dear John! Thank you very much!🎄🎄🎄🌞🍻🍤🍤🍤😁
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Always ready for good news. 🥂🍰
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Yes, as the JohnKu states, they need to be tough in this world.
I hope this beautiful fish multiplies.
Thank you for this heartening article.
🐠𝔛 🐠𝔛 🐠𝔛 🐠𝔛
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Thank you, Resa. They need to be like these. 🦈X 🦈X🦈X🦈X
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True!
🦈X 🦈X🦈X🦈X 💋
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🦈X 🦈X🦈X🦈X 💋🌺
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Sorry for the delay in answering. Now the fish are 3 days old. Yikes! Kisses and flowers will have to suffice.
💋🌺💋🌺
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It’s okay. You are a busy artist. Yeah the fish need to go into the garden. 🥦 🥬🥒🧄
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Hahahaha!!!!!! OX
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OX
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What an exciting discovery for those ichthyologists! (Did I get that right?? 😉 )
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I think so, Betsy.
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A leopard with scales…count me in!
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Good description.
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Wonderful news!
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Thank you, Cheryl.
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Thanks for sharing some good news John. 🙂
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Always like good news.
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Amen. 🙂
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