On May 5, a group of fishermen in Stung Treng province, northeastern Cambodia, accidentally discovered an unusual creature called stingray weighs almost 200 kg. Giant fish was pulled up from the Mekong River after swallowing another fish caught in the trap of these fishermen.
The fish was identified as a giant freshwater stingray (Urogymnus polylepis), female. It has a huge size of 1.9 meters wide, 3.9 meters long and weighs 181kg. The inside of the serrated animal’s mouth contains venom 15cm long.
Close-up of a stingray weighing nearly 200kg
After catching a giant stingray like “Kappa“, the fishermen reported to an underwater conservation group run by the University of Nevada Reno (URN) for research. Experts took measurements and then released the stingray back into the natural environment.
Close-up image of an endangered giant ray found
This is not the first time a giant stingray has been found. Previous reports have suggested that this fish can grow to even larger sizes. In 2005, a giant freshwater stingray was caught in Thailand with a weight of up to 249kg.
The stingray was then released back into the river
The discovery of the “water monster” in the Mekong River this time has attracted the attention of many scientists because it is not simply a strange fish. According to Zeb Hogan from the University of Nevada, Reno, and also the leader of the USAID-funded Wonders of the Mekong expedition project team, the discovery of such giant creatures is a warning.
“The accidental discovery of the fishermen confirmed the existence of huge fish of a rare species in this part of the river. This is a very remote part of the river, it has not been well studied, it is extremely important to the study of biodiversity,” said Hogan.
The “water monster” washed ashore could be a sign that part of the Mekong River has suffered ecological damage. This process is happening due to hydroelectric dam construction projects, illegal fishing and plastic waste.
The river is also under particular threat from climate change. In recent years, dry conditions caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon have caused seasonal water levels in the Mekong River to drop to historic lows.
The “Water Monster” appeared as a warning of countless threats
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
