Named Borami – meaning “full moon” in Khmer – because of its bulbous shape, the four-meter (13-foot) female was released back into the river after being electronically tagged to allow scientists to observe its movement and behavior. .
“This is very exciting news because it was the largest (freshwater) fish in the world,” said biologist Zeb Hogan, a former host of the National Geographic Channel Monster Fish show and now part of Wonders of the Mekong, a conservation project. of nature. on the river.
“This is also exciting news, because it means that this part of the Mekong is still healthy … It’s a sign of hope that these huge fish are still alive (here).”
Borami was caught last week off Ko Prea, an island along the northern part of Cambodia’s river. She took the record for a 645-pound (293-pound) giant catfish that was caught upstream in northern Thailand in 2005.
After a fisherman hooked a stingray – an endangered species – he contacted the Mekong Wonders, who helped mark the beam and release it back into the river.
The Mekong has the world’s third most diverse fish population, according to its river commission – although overfishing, pollution, saltwater infiltration and depletion of sediments have led to a sharp decline in stocks.
In particular, stingrays were vulnerable to these changes, with mass deaths despite conservation measures, including restrictions on fishing and river protection, according to Wonders of the Mekong.
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