A local fisherman in Cambodia has caught what experts consider to be the largest freshwater fish in the world—a true river monster.

The record catfish, found in Thailand in 2005, was 646 pounds. Moul Thun, 42, broke that record with a gigantic stingray that weighs 661 pounds and stretches 13 feet long.

The Mekong River, which is well-known for harboring a variety of enormous fish species, is where the stingray, also known as “Boramy” or “full moon” in the Khmer language, was captured.

Before the ray was returned to the river, a group of scientists from the Wonders of Mekong research project assisted with its tagging, weighing, and measuring.

A local fisherman in Cambodia has caught what experts consider to be the largest freshwater fish in the world—a true river monster.

Experts will be able to comprehend the stingray’s behavior along the vast river, which passes through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, thanks to the tag, which emits an auditory signal.

The tracking data will be sent by the device for the upcoming year.

Numerous kinds of enormous freshwater fish inhabit the Mekong River, but environmental challenges are increasing.

Scientists are particularly concerned that a significant dam-building effort in recent years may be significantly altering spawning sites.

Moul Thun, 42, successfully hooked a monster 13-foot-long, 661-pound stingray.

The Mekong River, which is well-known for supporting a variety of enormous fish species, is where the stingray, also known as “Boramy” or “full moon” in the Khmer language, was captured.

Zeb Hogan, Wonders of the Mekong leader, told AFP that “big fish worldwide are endangered.” These species have great value. Their maturation is a long process. Thus, they are prevented from reproducing if they are fished before they reach adulthood.

Since many of these enormous fish are migratory, their survival depends on wide areas. They are affected by factors like dam-induced habitat fragmentation, which is undoubtedly caused by overfishing.

Thus, аll Mekоng species аnd rоughly 70% оf big freshwаter fish wоrldwide аre in dаnger оf gоing extinct.

For almost 20 years, Hogan has been touring the world in pursuit of “megafishes,” a species that are elusive and that he hopes to witness for himself.

But a lot of his study has been predicated on accounts from nearby fisherman who claimed to have personally saw river monsters; however, everything changed on June 13 when the enormous stingray was captured.

Before the ray was returned to the river, a group of scientists from the Wonders of Mekong research project assisted with its tagging, weighing, and measuring.

Scientists were at the river within a few hours after Thun hooking the fish that broke all previous records.

The enormous fish attracted a lot of attention to the river as the team lifted it in a big sheet and started measuring it from snout to tail.

To record the fish’s weight, it was positioned atop three scales.

The stingray was identified as a female of the same species that is frequently found across the Mekong and was determined to be in good health.

The enоrmоus stingrаy is а fish thаt is lаrgely unknоwn. In the pаst 20 yeаrs, its nаme—including its scientific nаme—hаs chаnged multiple times, аccоrding tо Hоgаn, а fish biоlоgist аt the University оf Nevаdа.

Although it is widespread in Southeast Asia, very little is known about it. Regarding its life history, we are unaware. About its ecology and migration habits, we know little.

The fortunate fisherman not only won the distinction of catching the record-breaker, but he also got paid market rate, or about $600.