The fish nicknamed the “Ghost of the Mekong” is no longer a ghost.
Like the legendary Rip Van Winkle, who wandered into the forest and disappeared for 20 years, the giant salmon carp (Aptshax Grypus) The Mekong River in Southeast Asia also seemed to have disappeared into the depths of myth. This giant fish had not been recorded since 2005, leading many to believe that the species had quietly gone extinct.
However, scientists confirmed the discovery of three individuals caught in Cambodian waters between 2020 and 2023. found items Hopes for the survival of giant salmon carp are reignitedfish ecologist Vanice Chan and colleagues reported in November. biological conservation.
In the search for this elusive species, researchers worked closely with fishing villages and spread the word that they were looking for “pa sanak”, the local name for carp. In 2020, a fisherman contacted the Cambodian Fisheries Department about an abnormal catch. However, with only photos of the fish, scientists were unable to definitively confirm its identity.
Then, in 2022 and 2023, scientists obtained two more specimens caught by fishermen and confirmed that they had seen a ghost. “I was very surprised and excited to learn of its existence.” Abt Shacks It’s in the Mekong River, which has disappeared for a long time,” says Chan from Cambodia’s Svay Rieng University.
Giant salmon carp have distinctive hooked jaws and salmon-like bodies and can grow up to 1.3 meters long and weigh more than 30 kilograms. Its home, the Mekong River, is home to more giant fish than any other river, including the Mekong giant catfish and giant freshwater stingrays.
However, the future of these giant rivers remains uncertain. Many giant fish, including the giant salmon carp, are migratory species that depend on seasonal movement for feeding and spawning. However, dams built across the Mekong River system impeded these migrations. Their survival is further threatened by overfishing and climate change.
The fact that the three newly discovered giant salmon carp were found outside of their likely historic range suggests that the species may be more widespread than previously thought. It suggests something. Cambodia has now officially added the greater salmon carp to its list of protected species. And researchers hope the rediscovery will spark new efforts to protect the Mekong River’s fragile ecosystem.
“This discovery is a huge leap forward,” said study co-author Zev Hogan, a fish biologist at the University of Nevada, Reno, who leads the USAID-funded Mekong River Wonders Project. It’s also the largest biodiversity hotspot on the planet. ”
