WEST Somerset Community College student Kyle Allen has been playing a leading role in nature conservation after successfully breeding an endangered fish that is so rare, it is already extinct in the wild.

As part of his BTEC extended diploma studies in animal management, Kyle has been caring for a group of Mexican goodeid fish which are on loan from Washford's Tropiquaria Zoo.

The zoo stepped up its campaign to save the critically endangered live-bearing fish species by taking on more varieties at the end of last year.

Tropiquaria now has 20 different types of goodeids, two of which are extinct in the wild, ten which are critically endangered plus a further two which could be extinct in the natural habitat within a year.

And now thanks to Kyle's success for his animal management studies, the ultimate aim of eventually releasing captive bred goodeids back into the wild looks even more of a possibility.

Kyle said: "I was really excited when my tutor Lee Jenkins helped get this project up and running.

"It has taken me time every day checking the tank, water quality and ensuring that the diet is the best one going.

"Now we have bred them, I am really pleased."

Kyle started studying for a BTEC first diploma in animal care at the college when he was in year ten and then chose to continue his studies at a higher level.

Lee Jenkins, the college's animal management tutor, pictured with Kyle, said: "Kyle has a strong interest in fish and works hard with all of our aquariums, so was a natural choice to run the project."

The college runs a range of animal management courses and will be holding a taster day as part of Adult Learning Week to introduce people to keeping exotic animals as pets.

Photo: Steve Guscott