The Chinese bahaba, a critically endangered fish was missing from Hong Kong for over a decade

The Chinese bahaba (Bahaba taipingensis), a critically endangered fish nicknamed the 'Panda of the Sea,' was confirmed in Hong Kong waters after over a decade with no recorded sightings, using environmental DNA (eDNA) technology.

Researchers from Lingnan University and South China Normal University developed a species-specific qPCR assay to detect trace genetic material from seawater, avoiding harm from traditional net surveys.

The fish, once common near Tai O and called the 'Tai O fish,' declined due to high demand for its swim bladder used in traditional medicine; it is now a top-level protected wild animal in China.

The study, published on bioRxiv and co-led by Jack Ip Chi-ho and Junjie Wang, found eDNA traces in western Hong Kong bays, enabling non-invasive monitoring for conservation.