Authorities identify vandals accused of killing rare fish at national park

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(Associated Press)

Authorities identified three men Tuesday who are accused of killing one of the rarest fish in the world in a drunken binge at Death Valley National Park last month.

The National Park Service said the men were identified following tips from the public and an investigation by several agencies. Law enforcement officials didn’t release the names of the suspects, citing an active investigation.

Authorities released surveillance video Monday showing the men climbing a fence guarding Devils Hole on April 30. They fired at least 10 rounds from a shotgun, shooting the locks off of two gates, and left beer cans and vomit. One man waded into Devils Hole, a cavern pool fed by a hot spring and is the only natural home of the critically endangered Devils Hole pupfish

Ileene Anderson, a scientist from the Center for Biological Diversity, told the Press-Enterprise that the Devils Hole pupfish has been on the brink of extinction for years.