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. It has been assessed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as it is threatened by overfishing and habitat degradation . On June 13, his team found it a giant freshwater stingray, or Urogymnus polylepis. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en consultant vos paramtres de vie prive. 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. There have been five series to date. He is a fisheries biologist from the University of Nevada. The pelvic fins are longer than wide and triangular with rounded corners. 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. 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. Dams are part of the problem. The situation is made worse by dam operators upstream regulating water flow for their own needs. The area is also home to rare Irrawaddy dolphins and giant softshell turtles. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. 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. This is a giant stingray, Tha explained to the boy. The total population of these fish is unknown, and little has changed about them in millions of years. 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. 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. 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; 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.. Wonders of the Mekong - University of Nevada, Reno. I believe this is not the last time we will release giant and endangered species back into their habitats, she adds. [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. Welcome to the newest most unique E-Bicycle store in the U.S. Southern California Giant is the first exclusive. 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. 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. 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. It has been assessed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as it is threatened by overfishing and habitat degradation. 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. She was caught by a Cambodian fisherman on the Mekong, South-East Asias longest river, on June 13th. Instead, Hogan says, many fishers now recognise it as a species that deserves to be protected. 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. 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 (. 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. 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. 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. But they are suffering. 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. This biological richness usually remains hidden from human view. Our Price $5,500. 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. See hi-res pictures, compare prices and find your perfect car at Auto.com. 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 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. Caught in Cambodia's section of the Mekong River, the catch is, of course, also the largest giant stingray ever recorded. Bob McNally Both dorsal and ventral fin folds are found behind the spine, with the ventral fold 2.53 times longer than the upper fold. 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 . (2009). 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. 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. Hogan says it is not unusual for rays stingers to break off for a variety of reasons. At just under 300kg, she is the biggest freshwater fish ever weighed. 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. This massive, endangered stingray was hooked by accident and released unharmed, By Call (714) 256-6700 to reserve yours today. It is not illegal to fish for giant stingrays in Cambodia, but it is not considered a good food fish in Southeast Asia. Scientists of Wonders of the Mekong, a joint Cambodian-U.S. research project, would confirm the catch and measurement. 2022 Giant Reign E+ 3 S (High) EVERY TRAIL, EVERY STEEP CLIMB, EVERY THRILLING DESCENT. Slectionnez Grer les paramtres pour grer vos prfrences. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. A characteristic feature of this species is its bright orange underside. The discovery of such a large fish has cheered conservationists. Populations of giant stingray are faring better than other Mekong giant fish. Fishermen in northern Cambodia caught a 661-pound freshwater stingray in the Mekong River earlier this month, according to reports. The Mekong Giant Stingray is a species of fish confirmed to appear in Additional Creatures: Aquaria. Because of these pressures, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed this species as Endangered. [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. 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. Experts believe giant stingrays are the largest freshwater species on Earth, according to National Geographic. This massive, endangered stingray was hooked by accident and released unharmed. She was the fourth giant stingray recorded in the area in the past few months. Unlike most fish species, they breathe through holes on top of their bodies which are called spiracles. 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. Between 2019 and 2021, the water level in the Mekong was the lowest since records began 60 years ago. This giant ray weighed more than 400 pounds. The massive fish, which was caught on June 13, 2022, has been. 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. It was the first time many of the villagers had seen such a large fish. Mekong giant catfish and Mekong giant barb. 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. 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. Moul Thun knew the giant stingray hooked on the end of his line was bigger than any fish he had ever seen. 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. 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. The 4-metre (13ft) stingray, one of Southeast Asia's largest and rarest sea creatures, was living 75 metres (246ft) below the surface.". In collaboration with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration, the project has also established a network of fishers who report catches of giant and endangered fish. 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. . It was previously thought the Cambodian government would refrain from building any dams on the main stem of the Mekong until at least 2030. 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. When you grow up, you should protect it.. 58 were here. 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 Himantura Kittipongi freshwater stingray, found in the Mekong Basin of western Thailand . He says declining freshwater fish populations in the region are troubling. [2] The maximum known disc width of the Mekong freshwater stingray is 62cm (24in);[5] it can reportedly reach a weight of 30kg (66lb). Changing weather patterns do not help. All rights reserved, largest freshwater fish species in the world, support of explorers highlighting and protecting critical species. In the week prior to the ray capture, Hogan, who is also a National Geographic Explorer, led a scientific expedition to the area. Villagers along the river are also paid modestly to maintain the acoustic receivers that pick up signals from the groups tags. It was caught on June 13 by a fisher named Moul Thun in the Stung Treng province in northeastern Cambodia, according to NBC . 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. 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. 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. The jaws of adult males also become strongly curved. 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. This giant freshwater stingray weighing close to 400 pounds (181 kg) was accidentally captured on May 4 by fishers in northern Cambodia. A 400-pound fish's release shows how some conservation efforts in Cambodia are paying off. Illegal fishing and pollution also are adversely affecting the Mekong, says Hogan, who has 20 years of studying the river. The number of enlarged midline denticles increases with age. 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. This became clear during several days of Mekong exploration, as Katija and her team deployed a remotely operated vehicle along the river bottom. Finally, the small juveniles may be collected for the aquarium trade. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Scientists say the giant stingray, measuring almost 13 feet from snout to tail, was caught in the Mekong River in Cambodia. Witte exhibit catches a monster fish in Texas rivers . 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. Hogan led the USAID-funded Wonders of the Mekong scientific expedition that concluded its work last week in the area. They then returned it unharmed back into the very remote portion of the Mekong River where it had been caught. The Mekong freshwater stingray was first recognized as a new species by Yasuhiko Taki, who included it as "Dasyatis sp." This biological richness usually remains hidden from human view. 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. Her discovery also points to improving relations between fishermen and conservationists. A fisherman on the Mekong river in Cambodia last week hooked the biggest freshwater fish ever recorded, scientists said a 300-kilogram stingray. 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]. in his 1968 list of Mekong River fishes from Laos. The areas biodiversity is threatened by the potential of hydropower dams being built on the river, according to scientists studying the region. Dead convicts and a peculiar murder in the Philippines, Japanese Manga are being eclipsed by Korean webtoons. But big fish may yet lose out to big hydropower. Conservationists hope that by tracking Boramy, they will learn which parts of the river to protect, including breeding and birthing spots. 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. 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. 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. 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. A row of 5 papillae lie across the floor of the mouth, with the outermost pair smaller than the others. It will mean the loss of fisheries, loss of biodiversity, loss of livelihoods, he says. The Mekong freshwater stingray preys on invertebrates and is aplacental viviparous. . Hogan says the Stung Treng province region of the river could have devastating ecological effects if proposed dams are built. What the 42-year-old fisherman from Kaoh Preah, a remote island in the Mekong River,. A new dam is being proposed just upstream of where Boramy was found. 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. 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. Wonders of the Mekong University of Nevada, Reno. [2], The diet of the Mekong freshwater stingray consists of invertebrates from the river bed. | The eyes are small and followed by somewhat larger spiracles. The fish had been captured accidentally after it swallowed a smaller fish on a baited hook. With Natalie Zea, Eoin Macken, Chik Okonkwo, Zyra Gorecki. 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. Photo: YouTube/MizzimaTV 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 . 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. A spin-off series entitled Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge began airing on 9 April 2012, and a sequel series (Robson Green: Extreme . A giant stingray weighing 143kg was captured and released in Stung Treng province on May 23. The researchers also sampled for DNA to identify rare or previously undetected species in the riverwhich, despite its importance, remains acutely understudied. It discovered migratory fish known as trey . Photo: YouTube/South China Morning . The National Geographic Society, committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world, funded explorer Zeb Hogans work. Copyright The Economist Newspaper Limited 2022. But video from 250 feet below the surface still captured several species of fish, including migratory catfish known locally as trey chhwiet. "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 . The ray was an unintentional catch by commercial fishermen who were soaking bait in a 260-foot-deep river pool. 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. 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. Illegal fishing methods, such as electrofishing, are also common, observers say. For 17 years, Zeb Hogan, a biologist, has been searching for the world's largest freshwater fish. Search used Chevrolet Corvette Stingray w/2LT for sale in Brea, CA. In the past 50 years the population of giant fish has dropped by 94%. Give this article 90 A giant. 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. [1], The Mekong freshwater stingray is subject to intensive fishing aimed at large bony fishes. [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. 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. In the deep pool expedition, the team was able to capture on video schools of migratory catfish 80 meters below the surface. 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. 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. The Mekong freshwater stingray preys on invertebrates and is aplacental viviparous. Can a giant stingray in the Lower Mekong be used to craft a good narrative about Chinese upstream dams? 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. But we appreciate them for doing so, and see them as role models in the conservation of endangered fish.. 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. 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 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. She swam away tagged. This giant ray weighed more than 400 pounds. [2][4], The pectoral fin disc of the Mekong freshwater stingray is oval in shape and slightly longer than wide. Can we save them? Menu. In the beginning, they were afraid of getting arrested or put in jail if they reported catching megafauna, she says. Wonders of the Mekong scientific expedition used submersible watercraft with cameras and lights to probe deep pools of the river during its study. [4] Like other stingrays, it is aplacental viviparous with litter sizes possibly as small as one pup. What is the legacy of BTS, the worlds biggest boyband? The tip of the snout protrudes slightly past the disc. They also block fish from migrating. 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. 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. That Boramy is both massive and alive shows that pockets of the river remain resilient and worth protecting. This tagging marks the first use of acoustic technology to study this species, and has the potential to shed light on mysteries of . These amazing fish are flat and wide and defined by gray or brown color. 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. 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. 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. European rivers are littered with barricades, but a movement grows to remove them, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society. Published May 13, 2022 1:14 PM. Dams alter the amount and quality of water and nutrients in the river. 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. - AKP . Over 140 of them have been built on the Mekong and its tributaries to feed the regions growing demand for electricity. 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! 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. [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. Other local leviathans, such as the Mekong giant catfish and giant barb, can reach 600 pounds and up to 10 feet in length. Hogan and Stefan Lovgren are co-authors of the forthcoming bookChasing Giants: In Search of the Worlds Largest Freshwater Fish. It supports the largest inland fishery in the world, providing livelihoods for tens of millions of people living in the region. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Dozens more are under construction. Your browser does not support the