Within a week, six Mekong giant catfish, a unique species that is critically endangered, were caught and released in Cambodia.
In Cambodia, fishermen caught six giant Mekong catfish in one week – one of the world’s largest and rarest freshwater fish, reports The Guardian.
It was learned that all the caught fish were released after identification tags were placed on them.
The Mekong giant catfish, which can reach 3 meters in length and weigh up to 300 kilograms, is an important part of the region’s cultural heritage. They are depicted in ancient cave paintings and mentioned in legend as symbols of the Mekong River. However, the species’ population has declined by 80% in recent decades due to overfishing and the construction of dams that block the migration of fish to spawning grounds.
The first two individuals were caught near the capital of Cambodia, then four more were found in the river, among them two real giants weighing 120 and 131 kilograms. The caught fish became a sensation, as few local residents saw them in person.
Dr Zeb Hogan, research biologist and director of the Wonders of the Mekong project, emphasized the importance of this finding: “This is an encouraging sign that the species is not close to the risk of extinction in the next few years. This gives us time to implement precautionary measures and continue to bend the curve from the decline before the recovery.”
As part of the project, scientists are studying the migration routes, habitat and health status of the giant catfish.
In addition to catfish, the Mekong River is also home to other large fish, such as the giant freshwater stingray and the rare salmon carp, which until this year were thought to be extinct. This finding increases optimism for the conservation of Mekong biodiversity.
Earlier it was reported that Czech fisherman Jakob Wagner broke his own record by catching a giant catfish measuring 2.64 meters long.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.