[2] Notably, there is an evolving independent parentage in the Pilbara region showing a significant genetic difference from other blind cave eels.

[1] On 26 March 2008, the Australian Minister signed a piece of conservation advice acknowledging threats from human activities and the volatile environment.

[8] An obstacle to the conservation progress is identified as the inaccessibility of the blind cave eel, the situation is abate by the introduction of environmental DNA species-specific PCR assays in 2020 allows for a better sampling method.

Observations were made in 3 regions; Cape Range, Pilbara, and Barrow Island, which makes the blind cave eel endemic to north-western Australia.

Recovery of a specimen from the mineral exploration bore BC186-155 in the Pilbara region near Bungaroo Creek in 2009, extending the known distribution range to 200 km.

Notably, the blind cave eel near Bungaroo shows a genetic difference from those from other locations, possibly due to sufficient isolation resulting in an evolving independent parentage.

The underground waters where the blind cave eel lives are a lightless subterranean system, indicating the adaptiveness of a total darkness environment.

[5] The blind cave eel likes to live in pastoral wells, dark caverns, fissures, under coastal limestone or burrow into sediments with a soft bottom.

Due to the blind cave eel’s habit, it is very difficult for people to access underground waters and its sites are usually too small.

[8] Moreover, the recorded sightings lack the lower part of the anchialine system and there are no more than three blind cave eels spotted on a single occasion.

[8] The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species accessed the blind cave eel as endangered.

[7] Threats identified by the blind cave eel approved conservation advice covers a range of human activities incorporating mining, urban development, construction, dumping and landfill.

In the region Barrow Island, while it is a nature reserve rated as A-class, gas field nearby exercise mining processes which cover the areas of the blind cave eel samples collected and therefore potentially threaten it.

In the region Pilbara, it is heavily impacted by substantial water extraction and mining activities due to none of those areas being protected nor conserved.

Moreover, the conservation advice proposed continuous monitoring of the 3 known regions and updating their management actions accordingly to analyze their recovery progress and effectiveness.

This includes diseases, parasites and fish species that threaten the blind cave eel and managerial actions should be implemented to exclude them.

[8] In 2020, environmental DNA species-specific PCR assays are introduced for a larger sampling population, making the inspection and monitoring of this rare species easier and conservation advice could be implemented more accurately.

Furthermore, the method also grants an accurate detection of invasive species allowing quick implementation of strategies to mitigate threats in the region.