25/05/2026
This is great news.
🚨 EXTINCT FISH REDISCOVERED: Rare Species Found in Perth Hills
In an incredible victory for local biodiversity, a freshwater fish species long thought to be locally extinct has just been discovered thriving in the Perth Hills.
The rare and threatened Balston’s pygmy perch has been officially detected in the Mandoon Bilya (Helena River). This tiny, highly vulnerable native fish was long believed to be entirely extinct north of Margaret River, making this new northern discovery an absolute game-changer for local conservation efforts.
How Was It Found? 🔍
The breakthrough began with cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling conducted by the Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Association under their BoorYul-Bah-Bilya Program. To officially verify the genetic data, the association collaborated with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s River Science team, sending newly trained Aboriginal Rangers into the field to conduct targeted physical surveys.
Incredibly, this is the second major environmental revelation produced by the program, following their previous success in confirming the presence of the elusive Perth Hills quokkas.
A Critical Climate Lifeline 💔
The Balston’s pygmy perch faces a severe risk of total extinction due to historic habitat clearing and the compounding impacts of a drying climate. However, researchers believe this isolated northern population could hold vital genetic keys, as its survival suggests a unique resilience to changing environmental conditions.
The findings will now be directly utilized to reshape future land-use planning, environmental conservation, and local land management policies, ensuring the habitat is fiercely protected.
🤔 Should more resources be directed to help protect these hidden wildlife sanctuaries? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 👇
🔔 Follow the Baldivis Times