The Atitlan grebe was first described in 1929, but for almost 30 years, no one studied it. It was also called the "giant grebe" and seems to have been an isolated population of the more common pied-billed grebe that relocated to Lake Atitlan in Guatemala long ago. A survey in 1960 showed the population was about 300 individuals. This isolated population was considered small, but stable. By 1965, the population had dropped to 80 birds. The local people began cutting down the reeds as part of a growing mat-making business. This gave the grebes less space to hide their nests. In 1968, the Guatemalan government passed a law saying a buffer must be left for the Atitlan grebe when curring down reeds. The addition of large bass as a sporting fish for tourists also had a dramatic effect on the Lake Atitlan ecosystem and the grebes. The bass ate the crabs and the small fish that the grebes fed upon. Larger bass even ate the grebelettes (grebe chicks). In 1965 Anne LaBastille led a campaign to save the flightless Atitlan grebes. Under LaBastille's watch the population rebounded to 210. In 1976 a major earthquake fractured the rock bed under Lake Atitlan which lowered the water level of the lake. This killed much of the remaining reeds needed for nesting. The final threat to the species came as the Atitlan grebe & pied-billed grebe began creating hybrids. These cross breeds were capable of flying and left the area. By 1983 there were only 32 grebes left. By 1989, the Atitlan grebe was declared extinct. Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 7 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. The Atitlan grebe might be a candidate. Scientists would potentially use DNA from the remaining skins and specimens at museums. If the Atitlan grebe was brought to life, could it ever be reintroduced to its native homeland in Lake Atitlan in Guatemala?