Mekong giant catfish weighing 293kg caught in Thailand

Fishermen in northern Thailand captured a Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) weighing approximately 293 kilograms and measuring 2.7 meters in length. Found near the village of Hat Khrai along the Mekong River, the specimen's size led scientists to compare it to a brown bear.

Conservation experts and fisheries officials attempted to keep the fish alive to return it to the river for reproduction. However, the catfish died before it could be released. Following local customs, residents processed and sold the meat for consumption.

The Mekong giant catfish is a critically endangered species. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), populations have declined by more than 90% in just two decades due to threats such as overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and dam construction. While the species can reach up to 350 kilograms and three meters in length, sightings of such large individuals are becoming increasingly rare.