The Clown Wedgefish: no laughing matter

The Clown Wedgefish is possibly on the verge of extinction. Historic records are limited to fish markets in intensively exploited areas of Southeast Asia and it had not been seen for >20 years, until a 2019 Singapore fish market record. We have recently identified the first wild occurrence records using social media searches. However, its contemporary range remains a mystery, presenting a major conservation challenge. This project will take a multi-disciplinary international approach to refine the distribution and status of this Critically Endangered species, promote its status (and rhino rays more broadly) locally and nationally in Indonesia, and plan for its long-term conservation and recovery.