‘Panda of the sea’ fish returns to Hong Kong after DNA gives it away
Scientists have confirmed the presence of the critically endangered Chinese bahaba in Hong Kong waters using environmental DNA (eDNA) technology. This marks the first scientific record of the 'Panda of the Sea' in the region in over a decade, offering a non-invasive way to track rare marine species.
Why it matters
The use of eDNA represents a major advancement in conservation biology, allowing for the monitoring of endangered species without the need for harmful physical capture.
Traces of genetic material collected from seawater have revealed the presence of the Chinese bahaba (Bahaba taipingensis) in western Hong Kong waters, marking the first scientific confirmation of the rare fish in the city for over ten years.Nicknamed the "Panda of the Sea" due to its low numbers, the giant sea fish had vanished from local records after years of heavy fishing.The research paper, published on the preprint server bioRxiv under the title Tracing the 'Panda of the Sea': Species-Specific qPCR Assays for eDNA Monitoring of Critically Endangered Bahaba taipingensis in the Pearl River Estuary, details how scientists from Lingnan University and South China Normal University tracked the fish using environmental DNA (eDNA) technology.The joint study was co-led by Jack Ip Chi-ho, assistant professor in the Division of Science at Lingnan University, and Junjie Wang of South China Normal University.Tracking fish without catching themThe Chinese bahaba lives only along the…
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