Acanthobrama telavivensis

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Acanthobrama telavivensis, also known as the Yarkon bream or Yarkon bleak, is a small freshwater fish found only in Israel, in the Yarkon River system. It grows up to about 20 centimeters long.

Population history and decline: From 1950 to 1970 the species declined sharply. A severe drought in 1999 nearly wiped it out. The remaining fish were taken into captivity for breeding.

Conservation actions and recovery: In 2006, fish were reintroduced to 12 rehabilitated sites in its former range. Since then, large populations of various ages have been found, suggesting the river restoration is helping.

What was done: Conservation efforts began in 1999 when the population fell to a few hundred. It was a joint effort by the Yarkon River Authority, Tel Aviv University, and the Israel Nature and National Parks Authority. The fish were kept in breeding pools at the university’s zoological park. The first reintroduction in 2002 had limited success because suitable spawning sites were lacking. A gravel-and-vegetation pond was created, and many juveniles appeared. In 2005 a second attempt to reintroduce them to the upper river was more successful after spawning habitats were built.

Current status: In 2014, the IUCN reclassified the species from Extinct in the Wild to Vulnerable, meaning it is now living in the wild again but remains at risk.