Caridina dennerli in Lake Matano 2022-2024

Описание: Did you know that the beautiful and popular shrimp Caridina dennerli is facing extinction?

This tiny red crustacean is only known from a single Sulawesi lake Matano. Along with the spread of invasive fish, shrimp numbers are rapidly declining. Despite an intensive search in 2017 and 2018, not a single specimen was found! The IUCN Red List category for this species has been changed accordingly to "Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct in the Wild)"...

But wait! In 2019, researchers with the help of local shrimp hunters found these iconic shrimps hiding under a thick layer of rocks in two places in Matano. Shrimps are not found on the places where they used to be, they stay deep under the rocks (at least 30 cm) hiding from the invasive predators. They are not safe there. The bottom is covered with a thick layer of mud and algae, which is not a normal condition, and the oxygen under the rocks can be easily depleted.

Can we find them on the next try?

* *
This video documents our findings in Lake Matano in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
We thank EUAC, AKWB and Megazoo & Friends for the direct financial support of our trips to Lake Matano in 2023 and 2024 and our conservation work there. They have not paid for production of this video.

* *
Sulawesi Keepers connect aquarists, scientists, conservation organisations, and local communities in an effort to prevent extinction.

Find out more at https://sulawesikeepers.org/