8-Foot Mekong Giant Catfish Caught in Cambodia

A Giant Mekong Catfish was caught by scientists in Cambodia last week. This particular specimen weighed 450 pounds and was 8 feet long. It is not the largest Giant Mekong Catfish ever caught. but it is significant because it is the only one scientists were able to catch this year. This makes them more concerned than ever about the fate of the Giant Mekong Catfish. Only a few hundred are thought to still be alive and the fact that the scientists were only able to find one does not bode well for the species.

The population of the Mekong Giant Catfish has declined 90-95% in the last century. The article in National Geographic says that 5-10 of the Giant Mekong Catfish are caught by accident each year. What I want to know is how do you catch a 400 plus pound fish by accident!