The Lake Titicaca orestias was the largest of the member of the genus pupfish and it lived with 29 other native fish in Lake Titicaca along the border of Peru and Bolivia in the Andean Highlands. These fish were unique looking and specially adapted to survive in the higher elevations of the Andes Mountains. Even their yellow eggs were colored black to protect them from the increased solar radiation found at the extreme altitudes. Because Lake Titicaca is part of a closed, endorheic drainage basin, anything taking place in its watershed had a direct effect on its habitat. There were two main causes of the Lake Titicaca orestias population decline. The first was the fact that humans used lake water for irrigation of crops. The fertilizers and pesticides used by farmers also drained back into the Lake Titicaca water basin. Zinc and Copper mining in the Andes Mountains also had negative effects on the native fish population. The second, and most impactful, cause of the extinction of the Lake Titicaca orestias fish was the introduction on non-native species to the lake. The rainbow trout was first introduced to Lake Titicaca in 1942 and the larger silversides were brought to Peru in the 1950's and were observed eating the smaller Lake Titicaca orestias. Just 12 years after the introduction of these two invasive species, in 1962, the amanto was gone. 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 Lake Titicaca orestias might be a candidate. Scientists would potentially use DNA from the two specimens at the National Museum of Natural History in the Netherlands that were brought there in 1877. While it could possibly be a candidate for de-extinction, Lake Titicaca is still struggling with the same problems that faced the amanto when it went extinct. New laws and people to enforce those laws are needed to protect and preserve the Lake Titicaca habitat. Many fishermen still use illegal fishing techniques that harm unintended targets. Many unregulated pollution issues still are impacting this vulnerable habitat. The Lake Titicaca orestias would still need to find ways to compete with the many trout species and the silversides that are still in Lake Titicaca today. In fact there are many trout farms around the region, because trout are a popular food source for the people of Peru in that region. If the Lake Titicaca orestias fish was brought back from extinction, could it survive in Lake Titicaca in Peru? We may never know.