Yesterday, the Madrid City Council reintroduced specimens of boga, bermejuela, colmilleja and chub, which had not inhabited the Manzanares since the mid-20th century when they disappeared from its waters after the modifications suffered in their habitat.
According to the Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility Area, the release occurred in the Manzanares River as it passes through Mingorrubio. The vermilion is a “protected” species that appears on the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime, which indicates that “its monitoring is necessary to prevent it from becoming vulnerable.” The boga, the tusk and the chub are “vulnerable” species and are included in the Spanish Catalog of Endangered Species, a circumstance that implies “the need to adopt measures to prevent them from becoming in danger of extinction.”
The specimens that become part of the river were captured in previous years in different parts of Madrid based on two parameters, which include the “genetic closeness of the species and the population estimate.”
The boga and the vermilion were collected in the Lozoya River, the colmilleja in the Guadarrama River and the chub in the Canencia stream. After their capture, they have undergone a period of adaptation prior to being released into the ponds set up at the Viveros de la Villa treatment plant.
The first step of this release was to measure, determine the sex and mark each specimen from the ponds located in the wastewater regeneration station (ERAR) of Viveros de la Villa. They were then transported in 60-liter blue drums with portable aerators to the release area around the Mingorrubio walkway. Once there, after a brief time of acclimatization to the temperature of the river water, they were released.
The objective of these actions focuses on the “protection of species” and the “protection and restoration of the habitat”, the City Council is also carrying out actions for “protection and restoration of the habitat”.
The delegate of the Area, Borja Carabante, and the delegate councilor for Cleaning and Green Zones and councilor of Fuencarral-El Pardo, José Antonio Martínez Páramo, participated in the release helping the City Council technicians.
