Michel Keijman:
Pelvicachromis kribensis - Koukoué
In 2009, during a field trip to Cameroon together with Uwe Werner, we made one of those discoveries you never forget.
Near Koukoué, in a small forest stream, we discovered a completely new Pelvicachromis kribensis variant.
A moment of pure excitement—but also one shadowed by a harsh reality.
At the very location where we found this stunning fish, small palm-oil factories were operating on both sides of the stream. Their waste was discharged straight into the water. Downstream from these factories, the riverbed was literally covered with a thick layer of oil—a devastating sight in what should have been pristine rainforest habitat.
Back in 2009, we were still fortunate enough to encounter a reasonable number of these Pelvicachromis. But during several return visits in the years that followed, it became painfully clear: the population had declined dramatically.
Thankfully, this beautiful variant had already been collected and distributed within the aquarium hobby. It will survive there—kept alive by dedicated aquarists who value and cherish these fish. And honestly… with colors like these, it certainly deserves a future.
A powerful reminder that while nature still gives us incredible treasures, their survival in the wild is far from guaranteed.
FB Jan 2026
