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Jayasimhan Praveenraj looks at a specimen of the recently rediscovered Chel Snakehead fish. Credit:
Diwash Gahatraj/IPSNEW DELHI, Apr 23 (IPS) - The Chel Snakehead fish, thought to be extinct, has made a dramatic comeback to the eastern Himalayan ecosystem after more than 85 years of absence near its source river in India.
Scientifically known as Channa amphibeus, its reemergence has delighted scientists and conservationists. The fish was found near its source river in Gorubathan, a tiny hamlet in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal. River Chel is a tributary of the Teesta River.
Two zoologists, Shaw and Shebbeare, collected the last specimens of Channa amphibeus in colonial India in 1938. Since then, despite numerous surveys, no one has found this mysterious fish until September 2024.
"I first learned about this species in 2007 during my bachelor's in fisheries science," says Dr. Praveenraj Jayasimhan, the 35-year-old scientist who led the rediscovery effort. "I considered it either to be a myth or simply an unusual variant of another species."
Praveenraj, who works as a scientist at ICAR-CIARI in the Andamans and holds a PhD in Aquatic Animal Health Management, has previously rediscovered other lost fish species and discovered 19 new species. He has been working on Indian fishes since 2015, but the Chel Snakehead presented a unique challenge.
The breakthrough came in 2024 when Praveenraj received a video from a friend showing what appeared to be the lost fish. "Tracking down the location proved challenging," he explains. "We initially suspected the video might be a morphed one."
Through persistent effort and interviews with local communities, Praveenraj and his team—including Dr. Moulitharan Nallathambi, Tejas Thackeray, and Gourab Kumar Nanda—were ultimately able to pinpoint the fish's location in the villages near the Chel River in northern Bengal.
In an interview with IPS, Praveenraj clarifies that the fish didn't actually vanish; rather, it's an extremely elusive species with burrowing behavior so can only be observed during the monsoon season.
“No serious attempts had been made to locate it for decades," he says.
Read the excerpts of the interview below.
IPS: What does the rediscovery of the Chel snakehead mean for biodiversity and conservation?
Praveenraj: A fish that was thought to be extinct for a long time has now been found. It reflects our limited understanding of our natural world. For example, the Himalayan region is still unknown. Just like we have the mysterious stories of the Himalayan Yeti, Channa amphibeus is also an animal that existed, but no one attempted the search operation because it required a lot of funding and local support. This highlights how limited our understanding of the natural world truly is.
It was a five-member team, including me. The team consisted of Nallathambi, assistant professor at Tamil Nadu fisheries university, N. Balaji, a fish hobbyist and taxonomist from Mumbai; Tejas Thackeray from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation; and Nanda, a zoology student from Odisha.
IPS: Tell me about your research process—like the methodology, timeline, and a little description of your team.
Praveenraj: It was very surprising for us. We collected the samples in September 2024 and initially I was stunned to see the fish for the first time. We photographed them alive using high-resolution cameras to note the color patterns, as these were the only specimens through which the general public and the scientific community could see them alive. We stabilized some in ethanol and formalin for further study. We counted the number of scales and fins to compare it with the older literature on Channa amphibeus of Shaw & Shebbeare in 1938. We studied the DNA of C. amphibeus. They were the first DNA sequences to be generated for amphibians. In addition, I used X-rays to note the count of vertebrae. The whole process usually takes very long; it takes months. We were extremely eager to complete the task. We were able to finish the process in one month.
IPS: River Teesta and its tributaries are home to several vulnerable species, like the Mahseer, Snow Trout, and Indian Catfish. How do you see the rediscovery of the Chel snakehead influencing the overall understanding of biodiversity in the region?
Praveenraj: The biodiversity of the Indian Himalayan regions is still underestimated. We can still meet new species if properly surveyed. Unfortunately, no agency or institution specifically provides funding for taxonomic research. The rediscovery of the Chel snakehead shows that ideal habitats still exist in these rivers for the species to survive, although there has been much habitat degradation in these areas over the years.
IPS: In your research, what were your findings about the state of our Himalayan rivers and their biodiversity? Kindly elaborate.
Praveenraj: I see a lot of potential in that region. The Himalayas stretch for about 2,400 km as an arc from west-northwest to east-southeast across the northern tip of the Indian subcontinent. These mountains are the source of some of the region's major rivers, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, which help regulate the climate of much of the subcontinent and beyond. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive checklist for the fish species found in these rivers, and there are no concrete studies discussing small and cryptic fish species. Of course, there are some checklists, but most of those tasks were based on the Fish Landing Center Survey. I believe that the number of fish species could be more than what we currently assume, a total of 600 species.
IPS: In your research, have you found any impact on aquatic life due to the rapid increase in anthropogenic activities (like construction of dams and railway lines, highways, and buildings)?
Praveenraj: Yes, these anthropogenic activities are always happening because of development. We can see habitats being destroyed. But still such species can be found in small pockets in remote areas.
IPS: How do you see the role of local communities, like the one in Gorubathan or the nearby region, in the conservation of these species going forward?
Praveenraj: The species, locally known as Bura chung or Bora chang, is considered a special delicacy and is typically collected in small quantities for food. The local community possesses valuable indigenous knowledge regarding the collection of this fish. It's traditionally kept as a secret diet, primarily reserved for pregnant women. While the local population may not be fully aware of the species' conservation status, our interviews with locals suggest that the fish is found in significant numbers during the monsoon season. It hibernates in winter and burrows into deep horizontal holes during the summer when water is scarce. Since it is harvested in low numbers for food, I don't feel there is a threat to this species.
IPS: How important do you think it is to raise public awareness about species like the Chel snakehead?
Praveenraj: Since the fish comes from a very remote location, we believe that some kind of local awareness is required for the local community to protect it. We managed to provide them with information about the fish for local conservation. For example, we asked them to provide us with its life history traits to fully understand its habitat and breeding nature. We have also advised them to do sustainable harvesting during their hibernation time.
IPS: There has been an increasing interest in ornamental fish varieties, including snakeheads, across Asia. How do you think this rising demand for ornamental fish could affect the conservation of native species in the Teesta River, especially if such fish are overharvested for trade?
Praveenraj: As of now, only a few fish species are collected from the Teesta for the aquarium trade; however, these fish are regularly fished by the local communities for food. It is their staple diet. Anthropogenic activities like sand mining, railway lines, pollution, and discharge from tea plantations have more impact than the collection attempts for the aquarium trade.
IPS: From a policy standpoint, how can the government of India, particularly in states like West Bengal and Sikkim, enhance conservation efforts for vulnerable species in the Teesta River?
Praveenraj: The government can establish a captive breeding program and habitat restoration programme for the vulnerable or threatened fishes and do periodic ranching; that is how we can conserve species.
IPS: What are the gaps in existing policies that need to be addressed?
Praveenraj: Fishes need to be given priority like we give for higher vertebrates. Pollution and sand mining have to be prevented. Research institutions in each state must breed their own local indigenous fish species and do periodic ranching.
IPS: Looking ahead, what do you believe the rediscovery of the Chel snakehead signifies for future research and conservation in the region?
Praveenraj: Lots to be explored; however, we hardly have any taxonomists working on freshwater fishes in India, hardly any, about six or eight people. We need to strengthen biodiversity studies and focus more on our indigenous fishes. Rediscovery of the Chel snakehead signifies how ignorant we are to ignore a large snakehead fish for decades.
IPS: What should be the next steps in ensuring the survival of this species and others in similar ecosystems?
Praveenraj: The next step is to breed these snakeheads, which will sustain the fish in captivity. Aquarium hobby has sustained many fishes in captivity despite local extinction of the same in the wild. We must breed and conserve our Indian megafauna rather than banning them or including them in the Wildlife Protection Act, which has no meaning at all. Research institutions must come forward and attempt captive breeding for this beautiful and elusive snakehead.
IPS: Lastly, How can local communities, scientists, researchers, and the general public collaborate in preserving biodiversity?
Praveenraj: They must work together to preserve our local biodiversity. This is an era of digital technology; many are using social media to report new species and alien fish species, which are contributing to scientists and researchers. We hope that this understanding continues to grow.
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