Razorback Sucker Downlisted from Endangered to Threatened After 30-Year Recovery

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has reclassified the razorback sucker from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The freshwater fish, native exclusively to the Colorado River basin, has seen its population reach approximately 36,000 following decades of conservation efforts. Recovery measures included habitat restoration, fish stocking programmes, and control of invasive species. Despite the progress, the species continues to face risks from drought, altered river flows, and non-native predators. As a result, legal protections will remain in place while conservation work continues.