Cambodian Fishermen Hook Giant Endangered Stingray And It Is Big!

Cambodian fishermen on the Mekong River got a shock when they inadvertently hooked an endangered giant freshwater stingray four metres long and weighing 180 kilos, scientists said on Wednesday.

The female leviathan is one of Southeast Asia’s largest and rarest species of fish. It was caught by accident last week in Stung Treng province when it swallowed a smaller fish that had taken a baited hook.

An international team of experts on the US-funded Wonders of the Mekong project worked with the fishermen to unhook the ray before weighing and measuring it and returning it unharmed to the river.

The giant Mekong is a crucial habitat for a vast array of species large and small, but project leader Zeb Hogan, a fish biologist from the University of Nevada, said the river’s underwater ecosystem was poorly understood.

“They are unseen worlds, underappreciated and out of sight,” he said in a statement issued by his university.

More than 1,000 fish species call the Mekong home and the stingray is not the only giant lurking in the muddy waters — the giant catfish and giant barb also reach up to three metres long and 270 kilos in weight.

The study group said in the statement that the remote location where the ray was caught has pools up to 80 metres deep and could harbour even bigger specimens.

But they also warned that underwater video footage showed plastic waste even in the deepest stretches of the Mekong, along with “ghost nets” — abandoned by fishers but still able to snare fish.

Environmentalists have long voiced concerns about dam building along the Mekong River that will destroy fish stocks.

The famous waterway starts in China and twists south through parts of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam, feeding 60 million people through its basin and tributaries.

Sources: AFP

Adib Mohd

Recent Posts

From Green Cups to New Generations, 75 Years of MILO® Keeping Malaysians Energised

For 75 years, MILO® has been more than just a chocolate malt drink, it’s been… Read More

5 hours ago

MILO® 75 Years Power Up for Nutrition, Sports, and Sustainability

Let’s play a guessing game. 75 years of nourishing spirits, one cup at a time.… Read More

14 hours ago

Mojo Projects Expands Its Comedy Legacy with Nesan David’s ImagiNesan! Back-to-Back Shows in Kuala Lumpur’s Singapore

As one of Malaysia’s leading live entertainment curators, Mojo Projects is going regional — expanding… Read More

15 hours ago

Manulife Malaysia and SCMP Thrive Inclusive Future for Youth

Manulife Malaysia and the South China Morning Post (SCMP) proudly welcome delegates to the inaugural… Read More

1 day ago

Puteri Balqis Has Engaged? The Beginning of Romantic Tale For This Young Actress!

A joyful update for the Entertainment Sky is here! Our dearest actress and poet, Puteri… Read More

1 day ago

Ultraman X DAN DA DAN, Tsuburaya Fields Unveils Exclusive Yukinobu Tatsu Collaboration Card for “Heroes of the Radiant Dawn” Booster Pack

Ultraman X DAN DA DAN, Tsuburaya Fields Unveils Exclusive Yukinobu Tatsu Collaboration Card for “Heroes… Read More

1 day ago

This website uses cookies.