'Giant' stingray discovered in the Mekong, shining a light on the river's biodiversity

A group of marine biologists have found an endangered big freshwater stingray throughout a latest expedition to a distant stretch of the Mekong River in Cambodia.

Whereas the invention was welcomed, they warned that the biodiversity of the realm was beneath risk.

The stingray was by chance caught by fishermen in an 80-metre (260 ft) deep pool within the Mekong in Cambodia's northeastern Stung Treng province and the visiting scientists helped return the animal alive.

Zeb Hogan, a fish biologist on the College of Nevada, stated discovering the 180 kg (397 lb) stingray, spanning 4 metres, was vital.

"This catch was important as a result of it confirms the existence of these huge fish within the stretch of river," stated Hogan, who led the USAID-funded Wonders of the Mekong expedition that wrapped up final week.

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The stingray was by chance caught by fishermen and spanned 4 metres vast.

"This can be a very distant stretch of river, it isn't properly studied, it is extremely vital for fisheries and biodiversity, and it is also a stretch of river that's beneath risk," he stated.

The group used unmanned submersibles outfitted with lights and cameras as a part of its efforts to check the deep swimming pools within the space.

The stingray was 4 metres vast.Reuters

Is hydropower damaging biodiversity within the Mekong?

The Mekong river feeds jungles, irrigates crops for tens of tens of millions of individuals, and helps the Tonle Sap lake – which the most efficient inland fishery on the planet.

Eleven hydropower dams are in varied levels of planning in Cambodia, together with lots of of dams on its tributaries.

This a part of the river might endure "devastating ecological results" if proposed hydropower dams go forward within the space, an announcement from the expedition group stated. 

Different threats embody unlawful fishing and plastic waste.

Hogan, who's been finding out the biodiversity within the Mekong for greater than 20 years, stated the declining inhabitants of some freshwater fish within the river was very worrying.

"Traditionally, this part of river produced 200 billion younger fish that then in the course of the floods season disperse all through all of Cambodia and even into Vietnam," Hogan concluded.