Cambodian fishermen were surprised to discover a rare giant stingray(黄貂鱼) they caught     ▲     in the Mekong River. The fishermen caught the endangered fish last week in a deep part of the Mekong in Cambodia’s northeastern Stung Treng province. It measured four meters long and weighed about 180 kilograms.

The giant freshwater stingray is one of Southeast Asia’s largest and rarest species of fish. The stingray was caught when it swallowed a smaller fish that had taken a fisherman’s hook. An international team of experts worked with the fishermen to unhook the fish. The team then examined the stingray before returning it unharmed to the river.

The experts were from Wonders of the Mekong. The group carries out research activities on the Mekong and shares its results with governments and communities along the river. The Mekong River is Southeast Asia’s longest, passing through China, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. About 60 million people depend on the river for food and survival.

The Mekong is an important environment for numerous species, both large and small. But the leader of Wonders of the Mekong, Zeb Hogan, says the river’s underwater ecosystem is poorly understood. “These are unseen worlds, neglected and out of sight,” Hogan said in a statement.

Hogan said the catch was “significant” because it “confirms the existence of these big fish in this stretch of river.” However, Hogan added that the faraway area is not well studied and is considered “under threat”.

The area could suffer “devastating ecological effects” if proposed hydropower(水力发电) dam projects move forward, the scientific team said in a statement. Other threats include illegal fishing and serious water pollution. Hogan has been studying biodiversity(生物多样性) in the Mekong for more than 20 years. He said the reduction in population of some freshwater fish in the river was very concerning.

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