And although many community-run conservation reserves, where fishing is not allowed, have been established along the river, intense fishing pressure remains a major concern in the area, where small fishing camps are closely strung along the riverbanks. Because of these pressures, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed this species as Endangered. [2], The diet of the Mekong freshwater stingray consists of invertebrates from the river bed. The fish had been captured accidentally after it swallowed a smaller fish on a baited hook. The massive, rare ray was caught after it swallowed a smaller fish that had taken a baited hook, According to the Jakarta Post. This is a giant stingray, Tha explained to the boy. She swam away tagged. Dams alter the amount and quality of water and nutrients in the river. When you grow up, you should protect it.. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. A massive sinkhole mysteriously opens up in Los Angeles, separating part of a family in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a desperate group of strangers. Your browser does not support the
element. [1], The Mekong freshwater stingray is subject to intensive fishing aimed at large bony fishes. The pelvic fins are longer than wide and triangular with rounded corners. The ray was an unintentional catch by commercial fishermen who were soaking bait in a 260-foot-deep river pool. This is the last place on Earth where we find these creatures together, says Hogan, who is a fish biologist at the University of Nevada, Reno, and leads the USAID-funded Wonders of the Mekong research project. Wonders of the Mekong scientific expedition used submersible watercraft with cameras and lights to probe deep pools of the river during its study. The Mekong freshwater stingray preys on invertebrates and is aplacental viviparous. The tip of the snout protrudes slightly past the disc. The Mekong river feeds jungles, irrigates crops for tens of millions of people, and supports the Tonle Sap lake - which the most productive inland fishery on the planet. The trey chhwiet spotting was of particular interest to Hogan, who closely studied the communal fishery more than 20 years ago and has tried to establish where the fish has moved since the dam was constructed. A new dam is being proposed just upstream of where Boramy was found. The eyes are small and followed by somewhat larger spiracles. The Mekong freshwater stingray, Hemitrygon laosensis, is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, restricted to the Mekong and Chao Phraya Rivers in Laos and Thailand; the occurrence in Chao Phraya is considered an introduction. Close. | Giant freshwater stingrays are the largest freshwater fish in the world. Following the catch, a team of visiting scientists from the Wonders of the Mekong project worked with the fishermen to unhook the ray before weighing and measuring it. The giant freshwater stingray, one of Southeast Asia's largest and rarest fish, was the focus of a recent USAID-funded Wonders of Mekong project expedition to Stung Treng Province, Cambodia. As handlers readied to return the ray to the river, a chief of the local commune, Long Tha, crouched next to a young boy who had come to watch the animal. In the deep pool expedition, the team was able to capture on video schools of migratory catfish 80 meters below the surface. At the capture site, a large group of villagers congregated around the ray, which was kept wet as it was briefly moved out of the water onto a tarp so that it could be measured and weighed. This giant ray weighed more than 400 pounds. Villagers along the river are also paid modestly to maintain the acoustic receivers that pick up signals from the groups tags. Apart from the giant stingray, the giant barb, giant softshell turtle, the Mekong giant catfish and the last population of the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin are found here. It was previously thought the Cambodian government would refrain from building any dams on the main stem of the Mekong until at least 2030. A giant stingray weighing 143kg was captured and released in Stung Treng province on May 23. The Mekong river, which starts in the Tibetan plateau and snakes through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, feeding some 66m people along the way, is home to more species of. Cars For Sale; Blog; Quick Search; Affordable Cars; Cars less than $1,000; Cars less than $2,000; Cars less than $3,000; Cars less than $4,000; The whip-like tail is no longer than twice the disc width and bears 1 (rarely 2) stinging spines on the upper surface. - AKP . While they were videoing the deep river habitat, the scientists saw widespread evidence of plastic pollution, even in conservation areas, as well as ghost nets, nets that have been abandoned by fishers but can still snare fish. For Zeb Hogan, who has long studied Mekongs megafisheswhich include critically endangered Mekong giant catfish and giant barbthe capture of the gargantuan ray is evidence of the outsized ecological and biological role that the deep pools of the Upper Cambodian Mekong River playa role further revealed by Hogans recent explorations of the holes. The over 13-foot long, 397-pound freshwater ray is an important find in that region of the Mekong. Populations of giant stingray are faring better than other Mekong giant fish. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. 2022 Giant Reign E+ 3 S (High) EVERY TRAIL, EVERY STEEP CLIMB, EVERY THRILLING DESCENT. The Mekong Giant Stingray is a species of fish confirmed to appear in Additional Creatures: Aquaria. Other local leviathans, such as the Mekong giant catfish and giant barb, can reach 600 pounds and up to 10 feet in length. Between 2019 and 2021, the water level in the Mekong was the lowest since records began 60 years ago. Such accounts are very difficult to verify, but there is reason to believe the giant freshwater stingray is the largest freshwater fish species in the world. They can grow up to 16.5 feet in length, including their whip-like tail. A giant 661-pound stingray was caught in a remote fishing village on the shores of the Mekong River in Cambodia, making it the heaviest freshwater fish ever documented, researchers said Monday . The stingray, captured on June 13 in the Mekong River in Cambodia, measured almost 13 feet from snout to tail and weighed slightly under 660 pounds, according to a statement by Wonders of the . The number of enlarged midline denticles increases with age. That Boramy is both massive and alive shows that pockets of the river remain resilient and worth protecting. On June 14, 2022, FISHBIO scientists surgically implanted an acoustic tag into a 661-pound (300-kg) giant stingray in the Mekong River in Cambodia, which weighed in as the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. The upper surface of the disc and tail are plain brown, with the tail folds much darker. BANGKOK - The world's largest recorded freshwater fish, a giant stingray, has been caught in the Mekong River in Cambodia, according to scientists from the Southeast Asian nation and the United States. The Thai government initiated a captive breeding program for this and other freshwater stingray species in the 1990s at Chai Nat, but the program has since been placed on hold.[1]. A local commune chief in northern Cambodia explains to a young boy about the need to protect the giant freshwater stingray, which is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, before it is released back into the Mekong River. In the first attempt of its kind to explore the deepest parts of the Mekong River, the team used as their eyes and ears unmanned submersibles equipped with lights and cameras, drop cameras suspended on long cables, and baited video cameras. Finally, the small juveniles may be collected for the aquarium trade. Search used Chevrolet Corvette Stingray w/2LT for sale in Brea, CA. Katija, who leads the Bioinspiration Lab at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, sees many similarities between the deep pools of the Mekong and the deep sea environment her team normally explores: deep water, little ambient light, and currents along the bottom. Copyright The Economist Newspaper Limited 2022. The Mekong River is home to 1,000 species, including diadromous ones that spend parts of their life cycles in freshwater and marine saltwater environments. So when the fishers on remote Koh Preah island, downstream from Stung Treng, hooked a giant stingray on May 4, they contacted project members, who travelled from Phnom Penh, a six-hour journey through the night and in the driving rain, to reach the island site. Bob McNally Call (714) 256-6700 to reserve yours today. The species is one of the worlds largest freshwater fishes, and is most commonly found in the deep pools of the Mekong River in Cambodia. Changing weather patterns do not help. The five pairs of gill slits are short. This tagging marks the first use of acoustic technology to study this species, and has the potential to shed light on mysteries of . It took a dozen men to load Boramy, a giant stingray, onto the scales. [2][4], The pectoral fin disc of the Mekong freshwater stingray is oval in shape and slightly longer than wide. The huge ray, weighing close to 400 pounds, was caught accidentally after it swallowed a smaller fish on a baited hook. Photo: Handout via AFP. A spin-off series entitled Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge began airing on 9 April 2012, and a sequel series (Robson Green: Extreme . See hi-res pictures, compare prices and find your perfect car at Auto.com. This species once formed the basis of a communal fishery across the border in Laos that no longer exists because the fishs migratory path was blocked in 2020 by the new Don Sahong Dam near the Lao-Cambodia border. Bright orange ventral coloration also characterizes the red stingray (H. akajei) of the northwestern Pacific; the two species have some similar meristic counts, but differ in disc shape, denticles, and dorsal coloration. Many Mekong fish species are highly migratory and move up the river to spawn, often travelling long distances to places like the deep pools of Upper Cambodia. Witte exhibit catches a monster fish in Texas rivers . It will alter this area forever.. Give this article 90 A giant. In the past 50 years the population of giant fish has dropped by 94%. Hogan says the Stung Treng province region of the river could have devastating ecological effects if proposed dams are built. Poor dam management, climate change and El Nio, a weather pattern that affects rainfall in the region, are all thought to contribute to the problem. The species is most known for its massive size, being 2 meters wide and weighing up to 200 kilograms, it is one of the world's . It can, according to a Khmer Times article about a 300kg stingray . Marine biologists are celebrating the catch of a massive, endangered freshwater stingray on May 5 from the Mekong River in Cambodias northeastern Stung Treng province, according to a report by Reuters. The Mekong freshwater stingray was first recognized as a new species by Yasuhiko Taki, who included it as "Dasyatis sp." Measuring 13 feet (4 meters) from nose to tail, the gentle giant weighs just under 660-pounds (300 kilos). A team of marine biologists have discovered an endangered giant freshwater stingray during a recent expedition to a remote stretch of the Mekong River in Cambodia. It discovered migratory fish known as trey . The ray . Normally, the giant freshwater stingray packs a poisonous, serrated stinger up to 15 inches long, though this individual appeared to not have a stinger when it was caught. At just under 300kg, she is the biggest freshwater fish ever weighed. This biological richness usually remains hidden from human view. [2] The maximum known disc width of the Mekong freshwater stingray is 62cm (24in);[5] it can reportedly reach a weight of 30kg (66lb). This became clear during several days of Mekong exploration, as Katija and her team deployed a remotely operated vehicle along the river bottom. It was caught on June 13 by a fisher named Moul Thun in the Stung Treng province in northeastern Cambodia, according to NBC . Now, according to a report in the Phnom Penh Post, the Cambodian government has agreed in principle to the construction of a massive, 1,400-megawatt hydropower dam on the Mekong just north of Stung Treng, where the deep pools are found and inside an area designated as a wetlands site of international importance. Can a giant stingray in the Lower Mekong be used to craft a good narrative about Chinese upstream dams? Can we save them? Learn more about the Societys support of explorers highlighting and protecting critical species. The discovery of such a large fish has cheered conservationists. Deep pools reaching down 260 feet serve as refuges for some of the worlds largest and most endangered freshwater fish species. But they are suffering. For biologist Zeb Hogan, the Mekong River that winds through Southeast Asia isn't so different from the Guadalupe River east of San Antonio. Unlike most fish species, they breathe through holes on top of their bodies which are called spiracles. This massive, endangered stingray was hooked by accident and released unharmed, By En cliquant sur Accepter tout, vous acceptez que Yahoo et nos partenaires traitent vos informations personnelles et utilisent des technologies telles que les cookies pour afficher des publicits et des contenus personnaliss, et des fins de mesure des publicits et des contenus, dtude des audiences et de dveloppement de produit. Hogan and Stefan Lovgren are co-authors of the forthcoming bookChasing Giants: In Search of the Worlds Largest Freshwater Fish. It was the first time many of the villagers had seen such a large fish. What the 42-year-old fisherman from Kaoh Preah, a remote island in the Mekong River,. 58 were here. Experts believe giant stingrays are the largest freshwater species on Earth, according to National Geographic. [2], A single row of thorn-like dermal denticles runs along the midline of the back and tail; with the largest found at the base of the tail. Broad, who has long experience diving in deep blue holes in places like the Bahamas, likened diving in the Mekong to swimming in a bathtub of caf con leche. Add strong currents, depths over 80 metres, and [various] debris and you have an extremely challenging environment to explore, he says. A row of 5 papillae lie across the floor of the mouth, with the outermost pair smaller than the others. Extreme Fishing with Robson Green is a factual entertainment show broadcast on Channel 5.The show sees actor and fishing enthusiast Robson Green travel around the world in search of the greatest fishing destinations. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) The 4-metre (13ft) stingray, one of Southeast Asia's largest and rarest sea creatures, was living 75 metres (246ft) below the surface.". In recent years, dry conditions, driven by the naturally occurring El Nio weather phenomenon but exacerbated by the warming climate, have caused seasonal water levels in the Mekong to fall to historically low levels. But last week it surfaced, literally, as fishers hauled a 13 foot-(3.9 metre-) long giant freshwater stingray, weighing almost 400 pounds (181kg), out of the Mekongs murky depths. La Brea: Created by David Appelbaum. This massive, endangered stingray was hooked by accident and released unharmed. Illegal fishing and pollution also are adversely affecting the Mekong, says Hogan, who has 20 years of studying the river. Hard as it may seem, in this mysterious environment even an animal roughly the size and weight of a grand piano can be challenging to find! Contents 1 Taxonomy and phylogeny 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Description 4 Biology and ecology The river as a whole is particularly threatened by climate change. This giant freshwater stingray weighing close to 400 pounds (181 kg) was accidentally captured on May 4 by fishers in northern Cambodia. For Hogan, who has seen the nearby Don Sahong Dam in Laos wipe out the fisheries there, the proposed dam in Cambodia would wreak havoc on the rivers sensitive ecology. Informations sur votre appareil et sur votre connexion Internet, y compris votre adresseIP, Navigation et recherche lors de lutilisation des sites Web et applications Yahoo. The researchers also sampled for DNA to identify rare or previously undetected species in the riverwhich, despite its importance, remains acutely understudied. The Mekong River is home to enormous and endangered aquatic life. Using several 100-kilo scales, the researchers confirmed its weight as 180 kilos (almost 400 pounds) and its length as 3.93 meters (almost 13 feet). In the week prior to the ray capture, Hogan, who is also a National Geographic Explorer, led a scientific expedition to the area. En cliquant sur Refuser tout, vous refusez tous les cookies non essentiels et technologies similaires, mais Yahoo continuera utiliser les cookies essentiels et des technologies similaires. Scientists of Wonders of the Mekong, a joint Cambodian-U.S. research project, would confirm the catch and measurement. Both dorsal and ventral fin folds are found behind the spine, with the ventral fold 2.53 times longer than the upper fold. As explained by the South China Morning Post: "A rarely-seen freshwater stingray weighing 181kg (400 pounds) was hooked by fishermen in the Mekong River on May 5, 2022. There are 2838 upper tooth rows and 3341 lower tooth rows; the teeth of juveniles and females are blunt, while those of adult males are pointed with a central keel. [2] It is caught unintentionally, typically in seine nets or on hook-and-line, and sold fresh for human consumption; fishermen typically break off the tail spine before bringing it to market. Researchers have long known this area, with its braided channels and islands covered in seasonally flooded forest, to be a dry season refuge for many important Mekong species, including various megafauna. [3], An exclusive inhabitant of large, freshwater rivers, the Mekong freshwater stingray has only been recorded from sandy habitats in the Mekong River along the Laos-Thailand border, and in the Chao Phraya River near Chai Nat in central Thailand. It has been assessed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as it is threatened by overfishing and habitat degradation. The Mekong river, which starts in the Tibetan plateau and snakes through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, feeding some 66m people along the way, is home to more species of huge freshwater fish than any other in the world. The areas biodiversity is threatened by the potential of hydropower dams being built on the river, according to scientists studying the region. Illegal fishing methods, such as electrofishing, are also common, observers say. Local fishermen stand with a rescued giant freshwater stingray hooked by a fisherman's net at the Mekong River, in Stung Treng province, Cambodia May 5, 2022. The research on this stretch of the Mekong has taken on urgency in recent years as the system faces increasing pressure from many directions. The underside is pale with large, irregular orange-yellow patches and a wide orange-red band around the disc margin. Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitask, Indonesias campaign against Islamists is a ploy to silence critics, What a giant stingray says about the Mekong, An earthquake kills hundreds in Afghanistan, Central Asian governments fret over shrinking remittances from Russia. Instead he called Wonders of the Mekong, a local conservation group, which paid him some $600 to keep Boramy alive so that she could be tagged and released. All rights reserved, largest freshwater fish species in the world, support of explorers highlighting and protecting critical species. In the beginning, they were afraid of getting arrested or put in jail if they reported catching megafauna, she says. Although the giant freshwater stingray (Urogymnus polylepis) is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, it is not illegal to fish for it in Cambodia, though its not considered a good food fish in Southeast Asia. Mekong giant catfish and Mekong giant barb. Over 140 of them have been built on the Mekong and its tributaries to feed the regions growing demand for electricity. This catch was significant because it confirms the existence of these big fish in the stretch of river, fisheries biologist Zeb Hogan reported to Reuters. This biological richness usually remains hidden from human view. Fishers in northern Cambodia handle a giant freshwater stingray to prepare for its release back into the Mekong River. The fish had been captured accidentally after it swallowed a smaller fish on a baited hook. Dams are part of the problem. But big fish may yet lose out to big hydropower. This giant ray weighed more than 400 pounds. The current record-holder for the largest fish in the Mekong River which flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam is a 646-pound (293 kg) Mekong giant catfish (. Caught in Cambodia's section of the Mekong River, the catch is, of course, also the largest giant stingray ever recorded. But we appreciate them for doing so, and see them as role models in the conservation of endangered fish.. They also block fish from migrating. [1] Measuring up to 62cm (24in) across, this ray has an oval pectoral fin disc, a tail with both upper and lower fin folds, and a midline row of spine-like dermal denticles. It measured 2.7m from head to tail, and weighed 293kg. [4] However, a greater threat to the survival of this species is widespread habitat degradation within its limited range, from dam construction, agricultural runoff, and industrial pollution. Photo: YouTube/South China Morning . Welcome to the newest most unique E-Bicycle store in the U.S. Southern California Giant is the first exclusive. Inside the plan to save some of the biggest freshwater fish, 4 solutions for trees and forests threatened by a hotter world, New megadams threaten worlds biggest freshwater fish. Moul Thun knew the giant stingray hooked on the end of his line was bigger than any fish he had ever seen. She was caught by a Cambodian fisherman on the Mekong, South-East Asias longest river, on June 13th. A 400-pound fish's release shows how some conservation efforts in Cambodia are paying off. Photo: YouTube/MizzimaTV [2] A 1999 phylogenetic analysis, based on cytochrome b sequences, found that the Mekong freshwater stingray is closely related to an undescribed dasyatid species from the Gulf of Thailand. The expedition's basecamp was adjacent to one of the Mekong's deepest pools and a fish reserve designed to protect spawning fish. Fishermen in northern Cambodia caught a 661-pound freshwater stingray in the Mekong River earlier this month, according to reports. These amazing fish are flat and wide and defined by gray or brown color. Hogan led the USAID-funded Wonders of the Mekong scientific expedition that concluded its work last week in the area. The National Geographic Society, committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world, funded explorer Zeb Hogans work. From a boat above, they watched on a computer screen as the vehicle moved through thick sediment and silt, which reduced visibility to just a foot or so. The giant freshwater stingray also hails from the Mekong River. However, in June 2022 a Cambodian fisherman fishing on the Mekong River caught a female giant freshwater stingray ( Urogymnus polylepis) which claimed the title of the largest freshwater fish in the world. During their visits to the area, the researchers saw technical equipment stationed around the proposed building site, evidence that an initial geological study is underway. Conservationists hope that by tracking Boramy, they will learn which parts of the river to protect, including breeding and birthing spots. What is the legacy of BTS, the worlds biggest boyband? There have been five series to date. The massive fish, which was caught on June 13, 2022, has been. International Union for Conservation of Nature, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T39407A124411226.en, "Molecular phylogeny of Asian freshwater and marine stingrays based on the DNA nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the cytochrome b gene", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mekong_freshwater_stingray&oldid=1080272089, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 31 March 2022, at 07:47. But its remoteness makes it a difficult area to study, and especially challenging is finding out what goes on at the very bottom of the river. Hogan says it is not unusual for rays stingers to break off for a variety of reasons. Not wanting to kill the female ray, the fishers called a rescue team, which managed to unhook it, weigh and measure it, and release it back to the river unharmed. She was the fourth giant stingray recorded in the area in the past few months. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. It is not illegal to fish for giant stingrays in Cambodia, but it is not considered a good food fish in Southeast Asia. Wonders of the Mekong - University of Nevada, Reno. Marine biologists are celebrating the catch of a massive, endangered freshwater stingray on May 5 from the Mekong River in Cambodia's northeastern Stung Treng . The secret of the Mekongs productivity is a seasonal flood that raises the river by as much as 40 feet and disperses juvenile fish downstream into the regions floodplains, where the fish feed and grow. It will mean the loss of fisheries, loss of biodiversity, loss of livelihoods, he says. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en consultant vos paramtres de vie prive. "Wow, it was so big," exclaimed Seila, a conservationist who works as project coordinator with the Wonders of the Mekong project, recounting the 5 May release at a webinar by the US-based Stimson . Wonders of the Mekong University of Nevada, Reno. He is a fisheries biologist from the University of Nevada. Pour en savoir plus sur notre utilisation de vos informations, veuillez consulter notre Politique relative la vie prive et notre Politique en matire de cookies. Published May 13, 2022 1:14 PM. The area is also home to rare Irrawaddy dolphins and giant softshell turtles. He says declining freshwater fish populations in the region are troubling. A characteristic feature of this species is its bright orange underside. This is a very remote stretch of river, its not well studied, its incredibly important for fisheries and biodiversity, and its also a stretch of river that is under threat, he said. The jaws of adult males also become strongly curved. This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline "A giant stingray in the Mekong", Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents, The Hindu-nationalist prime minister is governing India as he governed Gujarat, The industrys business model has hardly changed since the 1960s, Published since September 1843 to take part in a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress.. The situation is made worse by dam operators upstream regulating water flow for their own needs. [4] Like other stingrays, it is aplacental viviparous with litter sizes possibly as small as one pup. TESTED AND DEVELOPED BY GIANT'S E-BIKE ENDURO PROS, THIS UPDATED TRAIL RIPPER GIVES YOU THE POWER TO ENJOY THE BEST PARTS OF THE RIDE AGAIN AND AGAIN. They then returned it unharmed back into the very remote portion of the Mekong River where it had been caught. Rivers and lakes are the most degraded ecosystems in the world. The Himantura Kittipongi freshwater stingray, found in the Mekong Basin of western Thailand . The total population of these fish is unknown, and little has changed about them in millions of years. While this one was large, reports indicate they can grow up to 1,300 pounds, though accounts of fish that large have not been verified. The wet season is shorter than it used to be and tends to start later, says Courtney Weatherby of the Stimson Centre, a think-tank. On the international team of researchers taking part were two other Nat Geo Explorers: Kakani Katija, a deep sea researcher, and Kenny Broad, an environmental anthropologist and cave diver. For 17 years, Zeb Hogan, a biologist, has been searching for the world's largest freshwater fish. But last week it surfaced, literally, as fishers hauled a 13 foot- (3.9 metre-) long giant freshwater stingray, weighing almost 400 pounds (181kg), out of the Mekong's murky depths. What makes working in the Mekong River challenging, particularly from an imaging standpoint, is the high turbidity, or low visibility, even in the deepest depths, she says. A fisherman on the Mekong river in Cambodia last week hooked the biggest freshwater fish ever recorded, scientists said a 300-kilogram stingray. (2009). Giant stingray rescued in Mekong River May 12, 2022, 2:25 AM STORY: Locator: Stung Treng, Cambodia Local fishermen got a surprise catch of the day A 400 pounds, 13 feet stingray was caught. But video from 250 feet below the surface still captured several species of fish, including migratory catfish known locally as trey chhwiet. It supports the largest inland fishery in the world, providing livelihoods for tens of millions of people living in the region. For several years, Wonders of the Mekong scientists have conducted community and market surveys to gather information about aquatic biodiversity in the deep pools area. I believe this is not the last time we will release giant and endangered species back into their habitats, she adds. These include most of the Mekong's imperiled giants - like the giant stingray, Mekong giant catfish and giant barb - all of which may grow up to 270 kilos and three meters. First Acoustic Tagging of Giant Freshwater Stingray in Cambodia Cambodia Freshwater Biodiversity Project Spotlight Tuesday, June 21, 2022 Deep within the murky waters of the Mekong River, giants lie concealed. The stingray was accidentally caught by fishermen in an 80-metre (260 ft) deep pool in the Mekong in Cambodia's northeastern Stung Treng province and the visiting scientists helped return the. Our Price $5,500. Slectionnez Grer les paramtres pour grer vos prfrences. Experts suggest this may be because of the depth of the river these species inhabit as well as the fact that they are so difficult to catch. According to Chea Seila, the Wonders of the Mekong program manager, who has long worked with the fishing communities here, attitudes among the fishers concerning the conservation of giant fish have changed as a result of the outreach efforts. . All rights reserved. The Mekong freshwater stingray preys on invertebrates and is aplacental viviparous. In this stretch of river, about 100 miles long, up to 200 billion fish are spawned every year, helping to make the 2,700-mile-long Mekong one of the most fish-rich rivers on the planet. Dozens more are under construction. Her discovery also points to improving relations between fishermen and conservationists. Instead, Hogan says, many fishers now recognise it as a species that deserves to be protected. On June 13, his team found it a giant freshwater stingray, or Urogymnus polylepis. It has been assessed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as it is threatened by overfishing and habitat degradation . Copyright 2015-2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. As enormous as the ray was, Hogan and others have conducted extensive interviews with fishers working in the region who say theyve caught rays almost twice that size. Taki's specimens were subsequently lost, and this ray was not formally described until 1987, by Tyson Roberts and Jaranthada Karnasuta, in the scientific journal Environmental Biology of Fishes. Her captor could have sold her as food. She measured a remarkable 3.98m in length (tail included) and 2.2m in width. The Mekong River, which starts in the Tibetan highlands and runs through six countries on its way to the South China Sea, is recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot, with close to 1,000 species of fish found throughout its system. In collaboration with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration, the project has also established a network of fishers who report catches of giant and endangered fish. The Mekong Giant Stingray, as the name implies, is a massive species of freshwater stingray that is found in various rivers in Southeast Asia, including the Mekong. The type specimen is an immature male 23cm (9.1in) across, caught from the Mekong in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. in his 1968 list of Mekong River fishes from Laos. Historically, this section of river produced 200 billion young fish that then during the flood season disperses throughout all of Cambodia and even into Vietnam, Hogan said. It is one of the deepest parts of the Mekong, and . Scientists say the giant stingray, measuring almost 13 feet from snout to tail, was caught in the Mekong River in Cambodia. European rivers are littered with barricades, but a movement grows to remove them, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society. The giant stingray that measured about 13 feet in length was caught by a fisherman, Moul Thun, 42, with a hook and line near a remote island on the Mekong River in the Stung Treng area. Menu. . With Natalie Zea, Eoin Macken, Chik Okonkwo, Zyra Gorecki. Before she took part in the release of a 181-kilogramme giant stingray back into the Mekong River in May, Chea Seila had only seen parts of it - sliced and on sale in local markets in Cambodia. The populations of these two rivers are likely isolated from each other. There is also a narrow band of minute granular or pointed denticles on the back, which are confined by a pair of parallel lines drawn backward from the spiracles. As the Mekong River descends into Cambodia from neighbouring Laos, flowing languidly past sandbanks and forest-covered islands, its hard to imagine the explosion of life that occurs underneath its surface. 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