In a dramatic rescue, volunteers freed a gigantic Mekong River catfish that had become stranded in a flooded train station in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The rescue occurred on Oct. 6, during a time when the city was grappling with severe flooding caused by the Ping River overflowing its banks due to heavy seasonal rains.
Volunteers Save Stranded Mekong River Catfish Amid Severe Flooding
Amid the natural disaster, which led to three fatalities and forced many residents to seek shelter, volunteers worked on rescuing the catfish.
The catfish, measuring over three feet in length and weighing approximately 220 pounds, was found trapped outside a ticket booth at the Saraphi Railway Station. Boonsong Tangrid, a volunteer who was involved in the rescue, described the fish as "one of the biggest I have seen," highlighting the extraordinary nature of the event.
He and other members of the Uttaradit Songkroh Foundation were on a mission to evacuate stranded residents when they came across the massive fish, according to Thaiger.
While the Mekong catfish is indeed large, it is relatively small compared to its species, which can grow up to nearly 10 feet long and weigh as much as 660 pounds, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
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Mekong Catfish
The Mekong catfish held the Guinness World Record for the largest freshwater fish from 2005 until 2022, when a 661-pound stingray captured in Cambodia took the title. This fish species is considered a true treasure for freshwater fishing enthusiasts.
However, Mekong catfish are currently classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), primarily due to overfishing and habitat loss. Because of their declining numbers, targeting these fish has been deemed illegal in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
In Thailand, while fishing for the species is illegal, it is allowed for private stocks, which helps conservation efforts while providing opportunities for sport anglers.
After the rescue, the volunteers handed the catfish over to the station master for supervision until it could be safely released back into the wild.
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