World's largest freshwater fish, a giant stingray, found in Cambodia
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Image: Chhut Chheana via The New York Times
Biologist Zeb Hogan and his team may have found the world's largest freshwater fish, a giant stingray, in Cambodia. It was 13 feet long and weighed over 299 kg.
After searching for 17 years, Hogan's team was alerted by fisherfolk along the Mekong river of the presence of the giant ray. The US Agency for International Development has set up the Wonders of the Mekong Project to protect the Southeast Asian river's aquatic diversity.
The fishers caught the largest stingray ever seen on the small river island called Koh Preah. The biologists hoisted the fish up using a tarp onto a scale to verify its weight, reported The New York Times.
The fish was returned safely to water after being measured. Experts also tagged the stingray with an acoustic device to track it for up to one year. A series of 36 underwater receivers were installed in a stretch of the waterbody to collect data from the fish.
The biologist said it is the first fish his team has tagged after the receivers were deployed. His team is planning to tag hundreds of fish for research.
This is not the first time a large stingray has been sighted or caught in the region. Less than a month ago, another giant stingray weighing over 181 kg was caught nearby. Earlier this year, two other big rays were caught by fisherfolk. They were all released back into the water.
Hogan believes that this stretch of the river with deep pools is a critical breeding ground for stingrays because all the giant fishes caught in recent months were female. He told the New York Times that the Mekong river is a very unique place but it is understudied. He added that North American and European river systems received a lot more attention from researchers.
The expert thinks the size of the stingray is more important as an indicator of the health of its ecosystem than breaking a world record. "When you hear stories about record fish, that's a good sign".
The scientist is also hoping to remind the local community about the importance of the river because dam construction, overfishing, and climate change have been affecting the fish populations. "Many species of big fish are in danger of disappearing forever. In 2020, Chinese paddlefish were declared extinct." He added that the Mekong river needs to be saved because it is also home to freshwater dolphins, giant soft-shell turtles, giant catfish, and giant barbs.