The national zoo in Pretoria has successfully bred the orange-fringed river bream in captivity as part of a programme to save the critically endangered freshwater fish from extinction.

This facility of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) celebrated Endangered Species Day on Friday 15 May with the announcement of healthy young being cared for under intensive care after successful female mouth breeding procedures.

The orange-fringed river bream (or Chetia brevis), is also known as the orange-fringed largemouth and is native to the Incomati-Lomati river system in Mpumalanga and the Hhohho province in Eswatini.

A reassessment in 2026 classified the species as critically endangered on the global International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List , following its previous classification as endangered in 2016.

Population declines have been linked to invasive alien species and pollution.

Sanbi national zoos and the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) collaborated on the conservation breeding programme at the zoo’s aquarium facility.

The programme aims to create sustainable, captive-bred populations that serve as a backup for wild populations.

The zoo has shared its plans to catch fish for release in predator-free, protected environments to preserve genetic diversity and improve populations.

The initiative aligns with Global Species Action Plan Target 4, which aims to prevent human-induced extinction and restore endangered species by 2030.

The orange-fringed river bream grows to about 15 cm long. Despite its “bigmouth” classification, the specialised predator feeds on aquatic invertebrates and small fish,and regulates their populations in natural ecosystems.

The zoo hosts public education and awareness campaigns and environmental calendar events to support sustainability and animal conservation efforts.