Portland, United States - June 27, 2025 The Oregon Zoo has welcomed a “very special group” of Pacific lamprey, marking the first time a cohort from the Willamette Falls population is in human care. Twenty-five of the eel-like, jawless fish arrived last week from Willamette Falls. The zoo has housed Pacific lamprey before, but never from this genetically diverse and culturally significant group. “This is a very special group of Pacific lamprey,” said Jen Osburn Eliot, who oversees the zoo’s northwest area. “They’re part of a larger effort to restore this population. Willamette Falls lamprey carry some of the greatest genetic diversity for their species, but they’re also at risk.” The effort is tribal-led, moving fish from downriver to locations above dams where lamprey once thrived. The 25 in the zoo will remain through winter and be released above the Detroit dam on the North Santiam River when ready to spawn. Other lamprey collected at Willamette Falls will be released directly into the new habitat. Scientists will compare the two groups to determine which approach supports better restoration. “We’ll use DNA fingerprinting of the zoo lamprey to identify their offspring and compare their reproductive success with that of lamprey released directly at Detroit Reservoir,” said Jon Hess of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. “Having a sample group at the zoo will allow us to learn more about the timing of their maturation as well.” Visitors can view the lamprey in the Great Northwest area of the zoo, where they often cling to the glass with sucker-like mouths and rings of sharp yellow teeth. The Pacific lamprey is over 400 million years old, predating dinosaurs and even trees. Despite surviving ice ages and mass extinctions, the species has sharply declined in the last 75 years due to human-caused threats. On June 26, Yakama Nation will host the 2025 Willamette Falls Lamprey Celebration at Clackamette Park in Oregon City. The event will feature a harvest, cultural dance, speakers, food, and a boat tour. In 2019, the Oregon Zoo partnered with CRITFC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create a dedicated lamprey exhibit. The goal is to educate visitors on the importance of protecting this ancient species.