In Raub’s Klau Dam, Malaysia, a possible piranha has been detected, creating a stir among residents and gaining popularity on social media.
The fish was reportedly caught by a local fisherman who was casting a net to catch other fishes. However, when he took out the net, to his amazement, he found one fish believed to be a red-bellied piranha among the catch.
As per Adnan from the Department of Fisheries, a technical study done by the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) in Glami Lemi found that the physical features of the fish support its belonging to the group Pygocentrus to which piranhas belong.
However, officials remained cautious and pointed out that the exact species was still not confirmed because the actual sample was not available for examination.
As per reports, the fish died after it was taken out of the water and the fisherman later discarded it in the nearby foliage before it could be examined further, including DNA tests.
There is No Proof of the Existence of Piranha Population
Based on the finding, the mass media stated that according to the Ministry of Fisheries, there is no evidence of piranhas forming a population in Klau Dam.
The authorities emphasized that there have been no other reports regarding similar fish since the first discovery. So, they urged the public to stay calm without losing sight of the dam.
The event nonetheless caused worries about the potential effects of releasing non-indigenous fish species in public waters. Invasive species may result in serious consequences in native fish communities, freshwater ecosystems, and aquatic biodiversity.
The authorities reminded the public that the exotic fish that have been caught should not be thrown back into the water.
Adnan cautioned that if a foreign fish species is caught, it should not be thrown back into the water. It is better to preserve the fish and deliver it to the nearest fisheries office for further examination and analysis.
Rumors on social media heightened the anxieties of the public
The news quickly made its way across Malaysian social media, where people were claiming through videos that the fish had eaten a crocodile. These statements led to the rumors that piranhas might have evolved and spread in rivers.
However, no evidence was found about their presence.
Later, DOF inspectors visited the fisherman who is engaged in fish trading and confirmed that only one piranha was caught.
Additionally, he reported that he caught other species, including river lampam, Java barb, zebra tilapia, and peacock bass.
After the death of the possible piranha, the fisherman threw the fish into the bushes located nearby.
For now, authorities keep monitoring Klau Dam. This case highlights the dangers related to the idea of introducing exotic fish into natural water bodies and the importance of informing fishery employees about unusual fish catches.
