There have been recent reports that explorations attempting to collect many of the colorful strains of Endlers Livebearers from Venezuela have have been unsuccessful.
Pollution and predatory fish species has apparently significantly reduced the Endler population in the wild. There has also been reports of ocean water spilling into the waterways used by the Endlers livebearers.
For these reasons along with the fact that common guppies often inhabit the same habitat as Endlers, many believe that many of the wild color variations are now endangered or possibly even extinct. Some people even think it’s possible that the entire species in it’s pure form is now extinct in the wild.
I find it hard to believe that such a prolific species is gone forever in the wild however in such a quickly evolving species I do believe that specific variations could disappear or change quickly.
I feel it is also possible for the wild strains to become contaminated with common guppy DNA fairly easily in the wild making the claim that the species, at least in its pure form, is extinct in the wild somewhat more believable.
Whether they are extinct, endangered or just plain hard to find many feel it is important to keep a genetically pure strain available to future generations.
Update October 2018: Since this article was published several new and beautiful strains of Endlers have been discovered.
Many of these strains are thought to be pure while others are thought to be natural Endler/guppy hybrids.