Monday December 16, 2024
Khmer Times —
Six critically endangered Mekong giant catfish, among the world’s largest and rarest freshwater species, were caught and released in Cambodia within days, marking a conservation milestone and offering renewed hope for the survival of this species in its shrinking native habitat.
According to Wonder of the Mekong, the Mekong giant catfish is among the largest freshwater fish in the world, and can reach lengths of nearly three metres and weigh up to 300 kilogrammes. To encounter even one of these elusive giants is a rare event; to see six caught and released in such a short time is without precedent in the history of their conservation.
The series of events began on December 6, when two Mekong giant catfish were accidentally caught on the Tonle Sap River not far from Phnom Penh and subsequently tagged and released. Just days later, on December 10, four additional giant catfish were caught and released at several locations along the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers, with detailed data collected during each event.