A “water monster” known as the alligator gar has drawn significant attention in China this week, as millions of people followed the efforts to capture it.
This fish is approximately 70 cm long and was first discovered by a resident in Yuzhou City, China, in mid-July, according to the Washington Post.
Local authorities identified it as the alligator gar – a freshwater fish with sharp teeth. Officials are concerned that this species may pose a threat to humans and have launched a campaign to catch it.
Challenges in the Hunt
However, those hunting the alligator gar face a challenge. They must locate the fish in Yunchan Lake, a vast artificial body of water teeming with aquatic vegetation near the bottom.
After two weeks of fruitless searching, local authorities announced they would drain the entire lake.
Many scientists consider the alligator gar a threat to the local ecosystem. (Photo: EyeEm).
As the water level neared depletion on August 23, media outlets and TikTok influencers flocked to the site to witness the fish.
A live broadcast by the Chutian Metropolis newspaper attracted over 37 million viewers, as a group of people searched for the fish.
“I’m starting a fire to cook the fish,” one comment in the live video stated, while many others shared ideas for the search team.
By the evening of August 23, they still had not spotted the fish. Many continued to livestream the search for the fish on August 24-25. A government official mentioned that the fish might be hiding in a 200-meter-long U-shaped pipe leading to the lake.
Threat to the Ecosystem
The alligator gar, native to the Americas, was introduced to China as an ornamental fish. They are popular for their peculiar appearance, but many individuals have been abandoned or released into the wild after growing too large.
Although Chinese scientists are advocating for the species to be listed as invasive, it is still sold in pet stores and on e-commerce platforms for just a few USD.
The alligator gar was once an ornamental fish in China. (Photo: iStockphoto).
Experts state that this species poses a threat to the local ecosystem due to their voracious appetite.
In Washington State, USA, illegally releasing an alligator gar into waterways can be considered a felony.
“When an alligator gar is released into a river, lake, or fish farm here, it will start devouring everything. This can be a significant threat to the local ecosystem,” said Gu Dangen, an expert at the Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute.
According to him, this fish can grow up to 3 meters long and prefers slow-moving waters like the artificial lake in Yuzhou. The fish may attack humans if it feels threatened, although such incidents are “very rare,” Gu added.
Members of the search team on August 25 stated they would enter the water pipe to hunt for the fish. However, some began to question whether it was worth draining the lake to search for just one fish.
“With this spectacle, people might think this is a Loch Ness monster hunt,” one comment on Weibo noted.
Meanwhile, Gu remarked that local officials had good intentions but may have overreacted.
“Of course, economically, it’s not worth much. Should we drain every lake when we discover alligator gars in them?” he commented.
