The venomous giant freshwater stingray, one of the largest and rarest species in Southeast Asia, was caught last week in Stung Treng Province, Cambodia, after it swallowed a smaller fish that had been hooked by a fisherman, AFP reported on May 11.
Cambodian fishermen were shocked to accidentally catch a giant freshwater stingray at risk of extinction, measuring 4 meters long and weighing 180 kg. (Photo: Young Eco Ambassador).
An international team of experts from the Mekong Wonders project, funded by the United States, collaborated with local fishermen to rescue the stingray and release it back into the wild after conducting a health check.
The Mekong River is a critical habitat for many species, but project leader Zeb Hogan, a biologist from the University of Nevada, noted that much remains unknown about the underwater ecosystem of this river.
Currently, over 1,000 species of fish have been identified in the Mekong River, and the stingray is not the only giant species inhabiting the wetland area. There are also giant catfish and giant paddlefish that can reach lengths of up to 3 meters and weigh 270 kg.
The research team added that the stingray was caught in a depth of 80 meters, suggesting that there may be many other species that are even larger.
However, they also warned that underwater videos have shown plastic waste appearing in the deepest parts of the Mekong River.
