The Mekong River in Southeast Asia is home to its fair share of river monsters, including its giant mustache reportedly reaching over 700 pounds and its equally massive freshwater spikes. The latter is what is making waves across the globe, as a specimen landed by local fishermen lowered the scales above 660 lbs, making it the largest freshwater fish to come down on record.
The fish was released after biologists took detailed measurements and labeled the fish so that researchers could continue to monitor the fish. Researchers even gave the eldest daughter a name, Boramy, meaning “full moon” in the local Khmer language.
Boramy was spotted by a local fisherman, who quickly called it the “Wonders of the Mekong,” a river conservation project, as they realized the large specimen was likely to weigh more than the record-breaking fish, a friend who turned the scales 645 pounds.
You can learn more about Boramy, the capture, and the work being done to protect the Mekong in this National Geographic article!
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Watch this clip from everyone’s favorite fishing show, River Monsters, where the legend himself, Jeremy Wade lands one of the Mekong giants!